The Student Government Association is proposing a $5 spirit fee be added to each student’s education costs every semester to provide band, cheerleaders, dance team and other groups with funding for spirit-related activities. We believe that this fee could be effective but should be postponed until the University is more financially stable.
The spirit fee would increase full-time students’ tuition and fees to $1,830.35 each semester, which is still more than 30 percent below the Southern Regional Education Board’s average. This may seem like a small sacrifice, but considering the University is suffering from $1.5 million in budget cuts this semester and a possible $4.7 to $8.6 million beginning in the fall, we believe the $26,780 the University would attain each semester from the spirit fee could be used in more productive ways.
The budget cuts that began this semester reduced library and lab hours, decreased course offerings, increased class sizes, turned off the tennis courts’ lights and shut off the University fountain along Louisiana Highway 1 and the anniversary monument at the center of the Quadrangle.
The reduction that would take place in the fall would eliminate at least eight academic programs and affect at least 58 employees. At worst, it would terminate 17 academic programs and affect 123 employees.
We believe a fee aiming to reverse the effects of the budget cuts on campus is more important than a spirit fee. Enforcing the spirit fee without first attempting to restore the University to its previous state and to spare some of the programs and faculty positions on campus would be irresponsible.
If the University deprives students of course options, library and lab hours and other resources, prospective students might rethink attending the University. This could result in a decrease in enrollment, which would produce less revenue for the University, leading to more financial issues for the institution.
Attempting to increase the spirit on campus while the University is going through such a difficult time would be ironic, to say the least.
The fee would give spirit groups the funds to attend off-campus sporting events and host activities, while students on campus are struggling to study at night and walk the tennis courts without a light. This would suggest that spirit groups trump academics, and they do not.
The spirit fee is a valid idea and, under the proper circumstances, would benefit the University. However, we believe the fee should be implemented when the University is able to first suit its students’ academic needs.
