The student rep fee; what it is, why we need it

Not only has the understanding of this term been the cause of confusion here at the Clarion newspaper, and has undoubtedly caused confusion among Citrus students, but the Associated Students of Citrus College executive board has also done a poor job informing students about the Student Representation Fee on campus.

Student government officers intended to advertise the $1 fee proposal to students before they held a special election on March 29 and 30, but the impending date snuck up on them and they were unable to do so, ASCC president Karlyn Bradley said.

Needless to say voter turnout for the special election was atrocious. Thirty-one ballots were cast, and, not meeting the minimum amount of votes required, the measure failed miserably. 

At a regular meeting of the ASCC board on May 11 the Student Representation Fee was on the agenda for disscussion.

Two Clarion staff members attempted to videotape the meeting but were restricted from doing so.

Unfortunately for students some valuable information was discussed.

I will do my best to relay those facts and also clear up any confusion that may stil be lurking about the proposed fee.

The $1 fee that is being proposed for the third consecutive time on the ballot for the student government election next week is part of a wider initiative, on the part of the

Student Senate for California Community Colleges, to implement Student Representation Fees at all community colleges in the state.

This initiative has been ongoing on behalf of the SSCCC and its predecessor, the California Student Association of Community Colleges, since the California Education Code was amended in 1988 by two crucial pieces of legislation.

The first, Assembly Bill 1725, emphasized the students' role in the shared government process and their right to express opinions, which is also supported by Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.

Although this opened the doors for student advocacy at various government levels, a SSCCC Student Representation Fee information packet states that "a lack of funding became an obstacle [for students] to do so."

This is where the second Assembly Bill, 2756, comes in, which allows for the implementation of a Student Representation Fee at California community colleges, which supports student representatives who advocate on students' behalf at various governmental levels.

There are 2.9 million students enrolled in 112 colleges in the California Community College system. Only 60 have implemented the Student Representation Fee, student activities supervisor Adrienne Thompson said.

Colleges that haven't implemented the fee may find it hard to fund lobbying efforts, this "potentially leading to an inadequacy of the students' voice," Danny Gutierrez, former student trustee at Mt. San Jacinto College, said.

"Currently, ASCC uses funds for legislative advocacy from their public relations and travel accounts, which means that money is not available to other student-centered programs and services such as providing travel expenses for students receiving honors at state and national levels, [and] sponsoring events like the art portfolio workshop and careers in health workshops," Thompson said.

Funds generated from the Student Representation Fee may be used only for specified purposes. 

One example of this is how during "Fax Day," a letter-writing campaign protesting budget cuts, students were unable to use district fax machines to send faxes to their representatives and had to supply their own.

In its May 5 issue the Clarion wrongfully reported that the student rep fee is a proposed hike of the ASCC sticker price that students pay at the start of each semester.

Let me be clear, student government officers are not requesting funds to fatten up the ASCC budget.

The funds raised by the Student Representation Fee would be completely separate from the $14 ASCC sticker price. Student rep funds would be used solely for student advocacy purposes at state, local and federal levels.

It should also be clarified that this fee is voluntary and any student may refuse to pay it on political, religious, financial or moral grounds by opting out, in writing, before they register.

During this difficult time of budget deficits, program cuts and overall financial woe, it is more pressing than ever that college students and their representatives play an effective role in the legislative affairs affecting their education.

This fee is a step in the right direction, but money will not solve everything.

Students must actively and effectievly involve themselves in the decision-making processes.

I would like to applaud student government officers in their persistence in presenting the student representation fee for a third consecutive election.

Elections will be held May 25 and 26 in the campus center mall from 9:45 am to 8:30 pm.

The proposed Student Representation Fee will require a minimum of 159 votes, 106 in favor, in order for the ballot measure, to pass.