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Campus: San Francisco State University -- March 10, 2004
San Francisco State University Students Back Proposals
To Raise Campus Fees
Academics, career center, student health service receive support;
athletics narrowly defeated
An outpouring of San Francisco State University students supported
campus fee increases on three of four proposals in voting on March 2
& 3.
A record number of 8,558 students cast ballots as part of the student
advisory referendum on the Local Mandatory Student Fee Proposal. The
number of students who voted represents 30 percent of the student body
and is four times the number of votes typically cast for student elections.
The results show that students voted in favor of increases for Academic
Affairs, the Career Center and the Student Health Service. The Athletics
Fee did not receive a simple majority as it was narrowly defeated by
just 233 votes.
The breakdown of votes is as follows:
| Proposed Fee Increase |
Total Votes |
Yes |
% |
No |
% |
| Academic Instructional |
8,558 |
6,309 |
73.7 |
2,249 |
26.3 |
| Career Center |
8,511 |
5,298 |
62.2 |
3,213 |
37.8 |
| Athletics and Intramurals |
8,509 |
4,138 |
48.6 |
4,371 |
51.4 |
| Student Health Services |
8,527 |
5,696 |
66.8 |
2,831 |
33.2 |
“I am proud that so significant a number of students voiced their
opinions by voting in the fee referendum and I applaud their willingness
to make some very difficult choices. Nearly three-quarters of those
who voted chose higher fees to protect their higher education. It is
one of the most remarkable, responsible and courageous student acts
I’ve witnessed as an educator," President Robert A. Corrigan
said. "There may be a message here for the state's decision-makers."
Penny Saffold, vice president of student affairs and dean of students,
also thanked students for carefully studying the issues and taking the
time to vote.
“I commend our students for their thoughtfulness and wisdom in
deciding such serious issues as fee increases,” she said. “Because
of California’s dismal budget woes and loss of General Revenue
to the University’s budget, students are telling us that they
are willing to raise fees in order to protect the valued educational
program and services offered at San Francisco State University.”
The referendum is a non-binding, advisory vote used to gauge student
opinions about the fee proposals. The results will be taken under advisement
by President Corrigan and California State University Chancellor Charles
Reed, who will ultimately make the final decisions on any fee increases.
Students voted in favor of the Academic Instructional Fee proposal to
establish a new fee of $75 a semester in order to preserve 575 course
sections that could otherwise be canceled because of budget reductions
and also to fund instructional equipment, library materials and classroom
maintenance.
The Career Center proposal asked students to establish a new fee of
$14 a semester. The money is needed because the Career Center is losing
its General Fund (state) support. The proposed fee would maintain the
current level of programs and career services for students and recent
alumni. Last year more than 16,000 students took advantage of a variety
of services to help them reach their career goals.
The Athletics proposal requested a fee increase to $33 a semester to
sustain programs and services for SFSU sports and intramurals. The adjustment
would replace funding that is currently being provided from the University's
General Fund revenue that will be eliminated next year as part of SFSU's
ongoing efforts to balance its budget. Without the General Fund revenue
support, Athletics could be forced to eliminate one-half of the teams,
staff and student-athletes. There are 16 sports teams for men and women
student athletes at San Francisco State.
The Student Health Services proposal requested that fees be raised to
$16 a semester for the Counseling and Psychological Services Center
which assists students who have problems, emotional or social difficulties,
relationship conflicts, anxiety or depression and concerns about academic
progress. The professionally licensed counselors and faculty also serve
the general campus in times of crisis, disaster and death on campus.
Results of the fee referendum are unofficial until certified by the
Fee Advisory Committee during a meeting on March 10. For more information
about the Student Fee Referendum, click here: http://www.sfsu.edu/~puboff/referendum/
Contact: Christina Holmes, (415) 405-3803; (415) 338-1665;
cholmes@sfsu.edu |