Fee increase up for Feb. vote

Due to a reporting error, Tuesday’s pg. 3 story, “Fee increase up for Feb. vote,” should not state that students will have the chance to vote for two proposed fee increases in February. The proposed fee increases, which have been approved by the student fee audit committee, student fee advisory subcommittee and the Board of Trustees, still must be approved by Student Congress before they will be placed on the ballot. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.

Student groups typically receive significantly less money than they request from Student Congress.

But in early February, more money could be available if students approve a referendum for increased student activity fees in a campuswide vote.

The referendum will propose a 15.4 percent increase in fees for student government, which Student Congress could then distribute to student organizations. Congress had $364,000 to distribute this year.

The projected $6 increase would raise the total student government fee to $45 for the 2009-10 school year. It’s the first increase request in more than 5 years.

The student fee audit committee, student fee advisory subcommittee and the Board of Trustees have approved the proposal.

It will not take effect unless it passes the campus referendum.

“The number of student organizations has grown, and the number of events planned has grown significantly, and there needs to be a significant increase in the amount of funds,” said Peggy Jablonski, vice chancellor for student affairs.

It’s not unusual for students to vote on fee increases. The Student Code requires a referendum for some student activity fee increases.

Students will also vote on whether to approve a proposed $10 increase to provide childcare services for students with families.

But until the vote in February, student groups must formulate their own funding plans if they didn’t receive what they requested from Student Congress.

“Be creative,” said Mike Morrill, chairman of the Student Congress finance committee. “There are a number of ways to fundraise, even if you’re a 20-person organization.”

Al Mask, co-founder of the student music label Vinyl Records, said Student Congress has allocated money to Vinyl Records twice, but that money isn’t the group’s main money source.

Instead, most of the group’s funding comes from grants, merchandise sales, membership and service.

“Student groups are going to have to be a little more strategic than getting funds from more than one place,” Mask said.

Morrill said that Student Congress is always willing to review applications for funding requests.

“If you do need money, definitely apply for money from student government,” he said. “We have it here, it’s just a matter of applying. But it’s a nice sign when we see student organizations doing significant fundraising on their own.”



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.