Friday, May 16, 1997
Survey shows mixed reactions to increased ASUCLA fee
ELECTION:
Students split over hike; few support takeover by universityBy
Frances Lee
Daily Bruin Staff
Despite recent sentiments against fee increases, the majority of
students who voted in Wednesday and Thursday’s general elections
supported the students’ association’s autonomy from the
university.
Voters in the Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC)
election were asked to respond to a non-binding survey intended to
gauge students’ response to next fall’s increase in the student
union fee.
Whether the association is worth an extra $43.50 a year in fees,
however, was a question which received mixed answers from
students.
Voters were evenly split at 40 percent over whether or not they
supported the fee increase, while only 20 percent felt that the
university should take over the functions of the students’
association.
"Student response is valuable to us," said ASUCLA Executive
Director Patricia Eastman.
She added that she would interpret the positive results as
"students valuing the services that we provide and valuing the
autonomous students’ association."
On the survey, students were asked whether the association
should maintain the increase and the services it provides, reduce
the fee to current levels  and consequently  their
services, or to turn the association over to the university.
"(Unfortunately), timeliness issues prevented us from putting a
(binding) referendum on the ballot as we would have liked," said
Levin Sy, ASUCLA finance committee chair.
"(But) the response from the students has validated our support
of the students’ association," he added.
Graduate students also voted in favor of maintaining an
autonomous students’ association during their election last month.
Considering that graduate students tend to use ASUCLA services less
than undergraduates, Eastman said she was pleased that they
supported the association and its stated mission of serving the
students.
"I have mixed feelings (about the results)," said Hugo
Maldonado, chair of the ASUCLA services committee, but he feels
"somewhat vindicated" in the choice that the association made to
raise the fee because of the support.
Some concerns were raised this week over the possibility of a
low voter turnout, since most of the offices had already been
filled.
"It would have been better with a larger pool (of voters),"
Maldonado said, adding that lack of space prevented the survey from
appearing in the primary election, which garnered a higher voter
turnout. But he feels that "under the circumstances, I think it’s
an accurate assessment" of what the students want.
"The greatest difficulty on (this) campus is informing students.
It’s difficult to reach a large portion of the population," said
James Friedman, vice-chair of the ASUCLA Board of Directors. "(But)
I think we’ve done a good job of reaching out to a portion of the
campus."
Regardless of the results of the survey, however, the fee
increase of $43.50 will take effect next fall, raising the student
union fee to $51.
"No student wants to raise their fee, but (judging from the
results), it’s clear they want these services," Sy said.
In addition to voicing their opinions on the fee increase,
students were also asked to rank the services that the association
provides, such as free meeting spaces, the use of study lounges and
maintaining a student-majority board of directors.
A majority of students gave the highest rating to all of the
categories.
But even though the results of the survey indicate a victory of
sorts for the association, the fact that 40 percent of students
would prefer to reduce the fee and the services is something that
ASUCLA will have to keep in mind.
"It’s clear that 80 percent of the students support a
student-run association," said undergraduate student council
President John Du.
"The challenge for (student government) next year will be to
educate students and get the word out about ASUCLA," he added.