Opinion: Fees- a new fad that creates a convenient loophole around Washington State’s tuition freeze

Stop. Before you read this, check out the Observer’s coverage on the Student Arts Fund. Did you read it? Good; carry on.

“Do you support the arts? Sign here.” This deceiving phrase, spoken by Arts Fund supporters, dominated walkways and conversations the Friday before finals week last quarter. If you happened to have a class anywhere near campus that day, chances are you heard it, too.

Approximately 1,400 students signed the petition. I’ve seen the documents with my own eyes. I was skeptical of that number at first, but once I saw the three-inch-high stack of papers, my disbelief was crushed.

1,400 students. Wow. Since when did 1,400 students collectively care about anything around here?

I’m talking about the petition started late last quarter by those in charge of the Student Arts Fund: the latest and greatest controversy at Central. It’s rare to hear students talk about anything that isn’t drugs, alcohol or sex. Arts? Fees? People care?

In the past, not really. In fact, in 2013, voter turnout at Central was abysmal according to a story in the Observer.

We have roughly 10,000 students on the Ellensburg campus and, of that 10,000, only 600 to 800 typically vote. That’s about 6 to 8 percent of the campus population. If U.S. politics were that bad, we would probably hang up our hats as a country and call it a day.

But that’s just how Central is. If it’s not getting laid or drinking, it’s not worth the students’ time.

Whether we want to admit it or not, that’s how so many fees have snuck onto ballots. I’m sure many have looked at their receipt after paying the school thousands of dollars each quarter and thought, “Hmm, why am I paying $400 in fees?”

That’s because you, the student, allowed it. We vote each spring on fees imposed on all students at Central’s Ellensburg campus. (I make that distinction because, obviously, we wouldn’t charge students who take classes in Lynnwood, Wash.) That’s right; that $30 technology fee you pay each quarter was voted on by students.

And a $50 fee is on this year’s ballot, created by and mostly benefiting an academic college. And that’s a bad thing. You know that icky feeling you get when someone has taken advantage of you? That’s how you should feel right now.

According to The Seattle Times, tuition increases in Washington have all been suspended since 2013, and lawmakers are looking to keep the freeze-train rolling. To combat this, many colleges are looking at fees to supplement the income.

This should scare you. Essentially, since schools can’t get your money the ol’ fashioned way, they’re instead going to increase fees. “But wait a minute,” you might say. “Aren’t student fees started by students and for the students?”

Well, not really. As The Observer discovered, the arts fee was started by school administrators.

Scott Robinson, Theatre Department chair, sent Yosef Gamble, current Associated Students of CWU (ASCWU) Student Government President, a Facebook message in June of last year asking to meet about an idea he had for a fee. Gamble showed me the message in person, which was sent to him only one month after he had been voted into office.

What is apparent, though, is that the bill will certainly benefit departments in the College of Arts and Humanities. According to the arts fund proposal, roughly 85 percent of the $1.125 million generated annually from the fee would benefit the College of Arts and Humanities.

In the proposal, dance, film and video studies, art, music and theatre arts would be beneficiaries of a slew of new funding, including $200,000 allocated annually to a new “publicity center” of sorts, to bring in more publicity for their proposed “CWU Fine Arts Series,” of which would only receive roughly $169,000.

Despite the fact that we already have a publicity center paid for by Central’s Services and Activities (S&A) fees, in addition to Campus Activities, which brings in multiple artists from across the country, the “CWU Fine Arts Series” is being touted as the main reason students across campus should vote for this fee.

Now, I’m not against fees. I think they’re great for extracurricular activities.

Take the Student Health Center fee. It’s $88 a quarter that goes towards benefiting every single student, not just those who happen to major in those five departments. Any student can take advantage of the services offered by the center.

The problem is when academic departments start asking for every student at Central to start paying their bills. As it stands now, the proposed arts fee is the only fee that would directly benefit academic departments. Yikes.

It also sets a dangerous precedent and presents a slippery slope. What’s stopping the College of Business from asking for a fee next year? What about Psychology?

Sure, the art’s fee is claiming it benefits every student at Central, but only 15 percent would actually benefit. Why don’t we pay $7.50 a quarter instead, since that’s the return students are getting?

When you look on that receipt each quarter, you should feel comfortable knowing that every penny is going towards something that benefits you, no matter what major you are.

I, for one, am checking the “no” box. Are you? Whatever your answer, I hope you did your homework. Don’t just take my word for it. Read the proposal, formulate an opinion and vote.

If not, I guarantee that the 1,400 students who already signed their names are going to do it for you.