College is usually an interesting time for most students. While some may get down to business and study hard all four years, others try to find a balance between studying and having a fun in such a social atmosphere throughout their time in school. As incoming freshmen, we all remember that first invoice we received the summer following high school graduation. Though the bill was straightforward, there were some charges that we all incurred and never realized their full benefit or drawback. Among those items is the ‘student activity fee,’ which remains a mystery to many people, even after their four years.
To clear up any confusion, all undergrads are charged a student fee which is comprised of a student health service fee, UPASS fee and a student activity fee. The first two are self-explanatory, not to mention higher in amount than the latter. The student activity fee goes to MUSG who then allocates it to various clubs, organizations, and programs within the university. As someone who has been involved in a club sport during my time in college, I can safely say that the student activity fee is an integral part of keeping clubs and organizations in the university running.
Looking at this fee by the numbers, we can see that it is about 13 percent ($27 out of $204) of the total student fee that is incurred by all undergrads, while the UPASS and student health fee make up the remaining 87 percent. From this 13 percent MUSG then has to manage how much each of the different student clubs, organizations and events can get. This is where it gets very difficult for those in the allocation process because they only have a certain amount that can be distributed to over 20 club sports, all Greek life organizations, individual student organizations and any student sponsored event request. Clearly there are numerous parties that can benefit from the funds that are collected each year. Of course, like any situation where there is more demand than supply, many clubs and organizations unfortunately do not get a share of this pie.
So what would happen if this fee was not charged? This brings about a reason why some clubs and organizations charge their members semester or yearly dues. If funding from the university isn’t enough, student groups have to find a way to obtain the money they need and usually the result is a membership due. Though fundraisers are an option, they don’t always bring in funds like a basic membership charge does. Furthermore, considering the number of clubs and organizations, what would happen if all of them decided to have a fundraiser on the same day and in the same area of campus? To which of the groups would a student donate their money?
For some people, being charged dues is the factor that determines whether that person joins or not. In such instances, the club or organization loses out on a prospective member, and that student is unable to join something they wanted to participate in. Thus, they miss out on meeting new friends and having fun doing something they like.
Though I believe that health is very important, it is very unlikely that someone will actually make use of student health services more often than joining a club or organization. In any case, the student fee is not optional since every undergrad has to pay for it, so it is best to use it. With so many student groups on campus it is hard to find one that doesn’t suit everyone’s needs or likes. College is a time that everyone will remember throughout their lives. What better way than to have memories of the friends you met or the different groups you were a part of?
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