ASUN fields questions about fee increases, allocation

Student fees, particularly as they relate to the current economy, were front and center at the town hall meeting hosted by the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska on Wednesday night.


The event, held in the Heritage Room in the Nebraska Union, began with short speeches by ASUN heavyweights. President Emily Zimmer, a senior political science major; External Vice President Katie Madsen, a senior business administration major; Internal Vice President Trevor Nieveen, a senior Spanish major; Chairman of the Committee for Fees Allocation Brian Coburn, a senior biochemistry major; and Speaker Ryan Hassebrook, a senior agricultural journalism major all spoke and then began a session of open questions.


Coburn fielded many of the questions, assuring attendants concerned about a possible increase in student fees that CFA has students' best interests in mind. In his opening speech, Coburn acknowledged that CFA is "a very difficult place to be in" right now, and they are trying to work within "a delicate balance."


Students wanted to know when the $80 per semester fee increase to fund recreation center and health center renovations would begin, should students and the NU Board of Regents give it a green light. The senators responded that they have no control over when that happens. Zimmer outlined several possibilities, but said she's in favor of a "tiered" plan in which fees build up slowly over time.


One attendant pointed out that the new amount would be an almost 20 percent increase, and asked Coburn to compare UNL's handling of student fees to that of peer institutions.


"When I went to a Big 12 conference, I was a little surprised," Coburn said. He said that approaches differ widely from institution to institution, but at UNL, students are given an unusually large voice in making student fee decisions.

Coburn described UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman as extremely receptive to decisions made by the committee, and called the CFA "a special place to be because you control where the discussion goes."


Carmen Mostek, a sophomore forensic sciences major, wanted to know what UNL is doing to assist students in the current economy and prepare them for the job market.


Senators also talked about the Peer Financial Education Center, an internship database still in the works that would promote networking, and Chancellor Perlman's "gutsy" move to OK plans for Innovation Campus.


"He's a risk-taker," Zimmer said.

At the meeting's conclusion, Mostek expressed confidence in the group of senators who responded to her questions.


"These are definitely the right people to be doing the job," Mostek said.


During ASUN's weekly meeting prior to the town hall meeting, senators passed a resolution encouraging students to educate themselves on the possible campus renovation projects and student fee increase. The resolution also stated that the senate supports passing the funding referendum on the ballot in March. Senators also passed a bill supporting the Education Opportunity Act of 2009.


renaeblum@dailynebraskan.com