Every student pays a little, and a lot of opportunities come for the university, community and students. That’s the idea and motivation behind the student activity fee.
The IHL Board invited the student body presidents and college newspaper editors from the eight Mississippi public universities to its office in Jackson for a luncheon Wednesday. Each president had an opportunity to speak about current issues and student concerns. They overwhelmingly agreed a student activity fee would satisfy the wants and needs of students.
SA President Jon David Cole said the student activity fee would improve the college experience for students. For instance, the fee could provide newspapers like USA Today, concerts featuring more prominent artists, more funding to student organizations, more cultural events and more speakers like Nobel Prize winners or political scientists.
These cultural and social improvements require money, but MSU has no funds designated for these kinds of activities. Currently, it takes about three or four student organizations to bring these events to campus or the city. But with a student activity fee, we can have so much more.
This idea would require each student to pay a small amount for big names and events. How much money? For each credit hour, a student would pay a few dollars. For instance, if a particular student has 15 credit hours and the fee is $4 per credit, he would pay $60 for concerts, speakers, events and other potential activities.
That’s a small amount for what you would get. Think about it. How much money would a student have to pay to see a musician he enjoys? Some concert tickets cost as much as $100, and you pay for gas as well. A student activity fee would allow each student to see more than one concert. Not a bad deal at all, and that’s not including the speakers and other events that would happen at MSU and Starkville with the fee.
Not only would this fee benefit students, but it would put our university and city more on the map. Businesses would benefit from the busy weekends in town. Presently, Starkville businesses donate money for events, so they aren’t able to benefit as much. With the student activity fee, the money would stay in Starkville.
College is about education and the student’s last youthful hoorah before the real world. The student fee would allow for fun nights and educational experiences. The student could have a blast watching a favorite musician or learn about other cultures during special events. It’s a well-rounded bargain full of possibilities.
There is a concern, however. We shouldn’t have a fee without some accountability. The students should have their say when it comes to the selection of concerts, speakers, etc. Also, the fee should be a set amount. If it starts at $3 or $5 per credit hour, it must stay that way.
Furthermore, the events and people the fee would bring to MSU would in turn bring more attention to the university. More students would come, and the opportunities would flow even more. The SA would expand, allowing the organization to represent more students, and people would be more involved with the culture of MSU and Starkville. We would cultivate what we have at MSU, so it’s not just about new things coming in.
We depend on the city too much. It provides many things to students. The student activity fee would take pressure off the city and put more opportunities before us. Many other universities have implemented this idea, and they have reaped positive things for their communities and students.
MSU would take one more step toward becoming a renowned university with the student activity fee. All it requires is a reasonable amount of money from each student.
The Reflector editorial board is made up of opinion editor Jed Pressgrove, news editor Sara McAdory, assistant news editor Wade Patterson, sports editor Ross Dellenger, entertainment editor Tyler Stewart, managing editor Dustin Barnes and editor in chief Elizabeth Crisp.