Student groups pledge to oppose the student activities fee

HSA Note: "University of Hawaii student groups are vowing a "student presence" at tomorrow's Board of Regents meeting to oppose a proposal that would require them to pay $50 per semester for an athletic fee. Representatives from the Associated Students of UH (ASUH) and Graduate Student Organization (GSO) have said they will attend the 9 a.m. meeting at the Stan Sheriff Center, a rare athletics venue for a regents' meeting."

HSA Note: "The proposal has been slightly modified to provide "five to eight percent of the total student fee" to "activities designated to enhance student experiences ..." as determined by a student athletic fee committee. It was originally listed at five percent."

About his opposition go the student activities fee, ASUH president Andrew Itsuno said:
"If the BOR passes this fee amid strong opposition from both ASUH and GSO, they will be sending a clear message to the students of the university that it is acceptable to disregard process when making decisions." (HSA)

The GSO general assembly said it:
"recognizes the need for a fiscally viable and student-centered athletics program," but said it "lacks confidence in the chancellor's proposal" and is asking the regents to reject it. (HSA)

HSA Note: "The GSO executive committee was scheduled to meet yesterday to plot strategy, according to Amy Donahue, chair of the GSO advocacy committee."

About how the student athletic fee is one of a variety of new approaches needed to improve campus operations, Chancellor Hinshaw said:
"I have never viewed a student athletic fee as the sole solution in any situation or in this one, but rather one of several approaches needed to stabilize campus-wide functions." (HSA)

HSA Note: "If passed, Itsuno said the athletic fee would be the second largest of nine fees totaling $305.70 that undergraduates would be required to pay each semester."

About how students will be surprised if this fee is implemented, graduate student Hannah Miyamoto said:
"Most students will be surprised by this fee when it appears on their billing statements this fall. The majority of students in the system at Manoa do not consider student-athletics to be material to their lives or even an indispensable part of the UH system." (HSA)

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