With a difference of five votes, students voted ‘yes’ to a tuition increase that could be implemented by fall. 274 students voted in favor of the new athletic fee while 269 voted against it. Students had the opportunity to vote between Mar.68 to determine if an increase would occur.
The news of the tuition increase has been met with mixed reactions from students.
“I use the gym so the increase doesn’t bother me,” stated Humberto Salinas, a Criminal Justice major, “I might as well take advantage of it, because it’s already paid for in my tuition.”
However, not all students feel the same way about the impending increase.
One undergraduate student, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated, “I don’t use the gym. I don’t see why I have to pay. Why can’t the university find other ways to raise the money?”
Despite such reactions, some athletes are reacting enthusiastically to the fee increase.
“I think the students and the university will benefit from the fee,” stated Mary Koch, an athlete and senior majoring in English, “the university is expanding and is expected to have a track, tennis courts, and an outdoor basketball court and in order to finance those new facilities, we need to raise the athletic fee.”
Koch went further to explain that once students and athletes have separate gyms everyone will benefit. Students, who are non-athletes, won’t have to leave the gym floor if athletes need to practice, because they will have their own place to practice.
“It will bring significant change,” stated Seymour Walker, an athlete and international student majoring in Kinesiology. “It’s a good opportunity for the athletics program. It’ll help students to receive more scholarships and bring revenue to the athletic program and university.”
However, undergraduates aren’t the only students noticing the potential effects of the tuition increase. 59 of 543 students who voted on the athletic fee matter were graduate students.
“In my opinion it’s good to implement an increase,” stated Rudy Guevara, a Management Information Systems graduate student, “it helps maintain the gym for students.” Guevara continued by explaining how the university’s advancement to the NCAA level could potentially increase enrollment numbers by encouraging students to register at the university.
The fee increase will be used to fund additional scholarships and programs to meet NCAA requirements. The program for NCAA requires the university to give athletic students a minimum of $250,000 in scholarships stated Jose Garcia, vice president for Finance and Administration. Garcia further explained that the fee increase will fund the hiring of new administrative positions.
“We are looking forward to having a strong program in NCAA. The athletic program will add a new dimension to education,” stated Garcia.
As for student participation in the athletic fee vote, Garcia stated, “Other referendums don’t draw too much a crowd, [but] I thought it was a great turnout this time.”
Garcia and Albert Chavez, I.D. System Administrator, confirmed that the referendum drew out the largest amount of students to vote on a matter to date.
“It was the highest turnout. Basically the electronic system helped students to vote, whether it’s from their dorm or home. It makes things easier,” explained Chavez.
However, the 543 students who voted only account for a little over ten percent of the student body, which consists of nearly 4700 graduates and undergraduates.
“Everyone should vote,” stated Chavez, “I’m a student. I voted myself. It’s important for students to cast their opinion and vote.”