TO THE EDITOR:
As a member of Student Congress who voted “no” on a student referendum on a $16 Union renovation fee, I feel I owe my off-campus constituents an explanation for my vote. The fee would not affect us as much as it would our future generations of UNC students due to its 30 year duration. This is definitely not the right financial atmosphere to promote such a large fee increase. Increased tuition, severe budget cuts, program elimination and faculty issues already plague this campus. Furthermore, UNC families and students are already working multiple jobs to maintain financial security. Fee increases are not the answer.
Moreover, we are already paying fees for the Union, such as $40.38 per semester entitled to “Rec Center and Union Debt” and $65.90 per semester entitled to “Carolina Union Operating.” If the student body feels that the fee should come to a referendum vote through a petition process, then that is within reach. However, during this terrible financial crisis, levying more fees is irresponsible.
Jared Simmons
Finance Committee
Student Congress
