Uncovering the mysterious fee

As mandatory becomes an option

Vote “yes” in April.

This mantra seems to have taken the place of the “approved by BSG” stamp on every poster across campus.  It’s boldfaced, brightly colored and leaves us wondering what we’re actually supposed to be voting “yes” for.

Are we voting for more construction?  Better parking situations? Or is it some secret petition being administered by BSG to oust the albino squirrel?

Try none of the above. The signs across campus are all advocating the BSG mandatory fee.

Why we’re asked to vote on a “mandatory” fee we haven’t quite figured out yet, but the time is upon us once again.

BSG could just be stressing the importance of this fee by calling it “mandatory” so students  can see how difficult it may be to hold concerts and other events without this fee, but the whole “vote yes or Brockport will DIE” attitude is a bit melodramatic.

We also love the “complimentary” services provided by our mandatory fee.  Why not just tell us we paid for it?  Seniors might know what we’re talking about with those diploma covers they’ll be receiving soon.

We do realize this fee is important.  Some smaller groups around campus wouldn’t exist at all if not for this fee and larger student run organizations like 89.1 The Point and yours truly are partially funded by it.  So although we would be losing a lot of programs, if you want to vote it down for a change, go for it.  You can always bring it back two years later.

The one thing about voting that baffles us though is that BSG hasn’t advertised where or when do to this.  Isn’t that essential if BSG wants us to vote yes so badly?

BSG also doesn’t state how much the fee is, what it funds exactly and whether the fee will increase in these next two years.  Does BSG just expect us to blindly put our faith in them and vote yes?

Lucky for you, we did our homework. The mandatory fee costs $96 per semester, which may be covered by scholarships, financial aid or if you’re lucky, your parents.  If you check your semester bill, we’ll bet you didn’t even know you were paying this.

The types of services the mandatory fee includes can be found all over campus.  If you check the posters in your dorm or in the union, you can bet some of the activities have “provided by your BSG mandatory fee” stamped in the corner.  The fee also provides the shuttle service, the concerts we have every year, discounted copies and faxes in the BSG office, Weekend Getaways and $1 midnight movies at the Strand to name a few.

Voting takes place this year April 3 and 4. Upper quad students can vote in Trax, lower quad students in Brockway and off-campus students can vote in the Union.

So instead of the question being where do we vote, it becomes can we live without the mandatory fee?  Not as comfortably as we are now. But whatever you decide, please do vote.

If you need some help deciding, all we can say is two years ago a total of 1,267 students voted – 972 in favor, 295 opposed.  Considering there are almost 7,000 students attending Brockport, that’s a poor showing. More students than that partake in the events provided by this fee.

So regardless of what you choose, just choose. Vote for the services you do (or don’t) want this April, and while you’re at, vote for BSG officials too.