A proposed $12.50 fee applying only to members of the University’s fraternities and sororities each semester was voted down by a student committee Thursday.
Members of the student fee audit committee unanimously voted against the proposed fee. A group of students and administrators, the student fee advisory subcommittee, can still consider holding a referendum of members of the Greek community for the fee.
The student committee expressed concern that administrators had not polled students and suggested a referendum to better gauge opinion.
The committee made the decision after a presentation by Dean of Students Jonathan Sauls, who has been involved in the proposal of the new fee since fall 2010.
The $12.50 per semester fee would generate approximately $62,500 to $78,000 in revenue for the office, Sauls said.
He said the revenue would provide a consistent budget for the office, which would allow it to provide more resources and services for students in both the Greek and UNC communities.
“Really, it is a benefit to the University as a whole because any time we can help address potential challenges around alcohol, drugs, violence — anything that challenges students’ success at the University — that’s a good thing,” Sauls said.
He said the fee would help fund incentive-based programs focusing on academic success, which would benefit Greek organizations currently struggling to reach required academic and living standards.
“This fee, if ultimately approved, will be going back directly to the kinds of support services designed to help chapters achieve those standards — things like safety, alcohol and drug programs, academic excellence programs,” Sauls said.
