LETTER: Proposed tax will help student activities

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by Krista Kyle

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To the editor:

Several students have proposed a bill that was passed by the Student Association at their Feb. 5 meeting to place a referendum for the creation of a new student activities fee on the general elections ballot on Tues., Feb. 27.

The referendum is stated as follows: "Are you in favor of creating a separate student activity fee called Student Activity Allocation of $10 per year? The funds, allocated to any registered student organization, would be used exclusively for the improvement and expansion of campus-wide activities and programs.

______ I APPROVE

______ I DISAPPROVE."

The intention of the fee is to increase and expand campus-wide activities as well as to simplify the process by which student organizations request and receive appropriations for these programs.

A fee would be collected in the fall of each year and would establish a pool of funds to be allocated for campus-wide programs and events.

A committee consisting of approximately 15 student members from various student organizations and all colleges would be responsible for approving these allocations for organizations submitting budget proposals.

The committee would also hold reserve funds for allocations throughout the academic year.

In addition to the funds that would be raised by such a fee, the administration may supply matching funds to double the pool if this proposal is approved by the student body.

Such a referendum serves to benefit all organizations on campus -- and virtually every member of the Rice community -- by allowing organizations greater freedom and opportunity to plan events which bring the campus together as a whole.

The colleges and blanket tax organizations may then dedicate their funds toward improving and increasing their own activities instead of allocating money to other organizations.

According to Tara Miller of Hanszen, "As practically every student is a member of some organization or club sport, we will all feel the positive impact of this referendum."

In addition, as Thea Kachoris notes, "This referendum will provide greater opportunities to represent the diversity of students found at Rice -- especially to those organizations which have not been serviced before."

An open forum to discuss this referendum was held on Tues., Feb. 13, at 8 p.m. in Kelley Lounge. For more immediate questions and concerns, please contact Krista Kyle at kmk@rice.edu .

Krista Kyle

SRC '97

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the February 16, 1996 issue.

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