A recommendation to increase the Student Activity Fee, originally proposed by a university committee, will be added to the Board of Trustee’s agenda for the July meeting.

Ohio State students pay a $15 per quarter activity fee that is allocated among: the Ohio Union Activities Board, student organizations, the SOURCE, the Explore Columbus discount program, Undergraduate Student Government and the Alternative Breaks Program.

The committee that proposed the increase was composed of 14 members including faculty and student life employees, as well as students involved in various student organizations and governing bodies. The committee met 25 times for more than 60 hours to debate and review the proposal.

According to a resolution introduced by USG President Ben Anthony, the proposed increase from $10 to $25 per quarter would also impose a four-year moratorium on increases.

The increase aims to compensate for economic inflation, increase funding for entities that the fee already funds, and cover events such as BuckeyeThon and the homecoming parade, which receive no funding from the $15 activity fee.

“The fee offers all students access to the most affordable options for the least amount of money in difficult financial times,” said Cara Shirley, USG press secretary.

The proposal received support from a number of student organizations, including USG, the Council of Graduate Students and the Council on Student Affairs. A USG resolution states that the $10 increase would benefit students in many ways. “With inflation, it is difficult to even offer one big event without sacrificing the number or quality of smaller ones and vice versa,” Shirley said.

Likely benefits from the increase include more big name events hosted by OUAB, including concerts and comedians, and better graphics and video services for students.

“After doing all the research, … looking at the numbers and looking at the quality and where things were at, … listening to my constituents, and deliberation in the 25 ad hoc committee meetings, we ultimately came to some resolve about a fee increase,” said Jason Marion, president of the Council of Graduate Students and member of the proposal committee. “I think there is more ownership about activity fee dollars than there is about tuition dollars. Students say, ‘This is my money and I want to know exactly where it’s going and what it’s going for.’ “

Along with the entertainment aspect of the activity fee, the proposed increase would support professional opportunities such as networking events for students.

“We have large campus events such as a Thanksgiving meal and African American Heritage Festival at OSU each year, and academic departments have found money within their budgets for these programs, … but that funding isn’t guaranteed,” said Kerry Hodak, chair of the proposal committee. “We wanted to expand the portfolio to include those programs that directly benefit students that have connections to the academic side.”

Although a state bill has frozen tuition and general fee increases for fiscal year 2010, the June 4 meeting of the Board of Trustees will host debate about a 2.5 percent increase for nonresident and graduate instruction, as well as the student activity fee increase.

Gina Ferrentino can be reached at [email protected].