Activity Fee Goes Down in Flames

Last month, CCNY students voted on whether or not to raise the student activity fee. The debate over increasing the fee from $49 to $90 raged, and was featured on the cover of last month's print issue of The Campus. During the early May vote, USG President Kenroy Cherrington yelled outside of NAC in favor of the 80 percent hike in the fee. Student athletes also lobbied hard to pass the fee, which would support student activities, like sports, the arts and music.Despite that energy, the fee did not pass-and the lobbying effort may have backfired."After reading what Kenroy Cherrington had to say in The Campus I was glad the student activity fee did not pass," said a City College student who asked to remain anonymous. "He seemed so arrogant and fighting the wrong side of the argument."CUNY campuses across New York City have long found that having a diverse mix of extracurricular opportunities were an asset to campus life. But in the end, the proposal failed by 100 votes, according to USG. Many students complained that they are already paying higher tuition costs and inflated book prices that this was just another cost that they were adamant about not paying. Students felt CUNY should pay the difference, not them."I don't understand why we are expected to pay these fees," says sophomore Tony Daniels. "It seems the school should be the one we are trying to get more money from. I am not sure students even know what it is."Adds student Michelle Evers: "I think we should be hitting up CUNY for more money, I work and have two jobs just to pay tuition. I don't want to funding the student activities pet projects."While many students feel financially stressed, they also understand the need to keep activities alive. "I feel bad for some of the programs that will be cut because this didn't pass," notes Sandra Erb, an education major. " A few of my friends on athletic teams are afraid their sport will be cut; what is next?"While the activity fee didn't pass this go around it is sure to be lurking issue on The City College Campus with both sides fired up. Still, Daniels says that when it comes up again, he'll vote it down-again."Why don't the USG executives give their monthly stipend back, that money can go to some of the activities they seem to be fighting for," he says.