For those of you that don’t follow the KCC Facebook feed, here’s a little breakdown of the latest uproar on campus.
Right now, we all pay a $1/credit hour activity fee to KCC. According to current policies, this is how that fee is distributed:
“Tuition and fees received are general fund revenues. However, when developing the college’s budget, student activity fee revenues will be divided between the student senate (35%), student activities (40%), and the administration of student activities (25%). Any unexpended student activity fee revenues will be transferred to the student senate account at the end of the fiscal year. “
I have no problem with the above distribution of that $1/credit hour. This means that for a 4 credit class, I’m paying $4. If I take 12 credits over the semester, I’m paying $12. I don’t particularly ENJOY paying that fee, but like finals and student loan payments, it’s inevitable.
In case you haven’t heard, the KCC Board of Trustees wants to charge $4/credit hour to ALL students to run the athletic program. I despise math, but here’s a little breakdown:
A 3 credit class, with 26 students enrolled, will generate $78 in student activity fees. That money is distributed according to the percentages above. No problem, I’m down with that. I participate in on-campus activities and I benefit from events sponsored by Student Activities and Student Senate.
IF this increase goes through, this is what the above scenario will look like:
3 credit class, 26 students enrolled, will generate $312 in student activity fees. Here’s the bite in the butt. Student Activities and Student Senate will STILL only receive $78. The Athletics program, though, will receive an astounding $234.
KCC student body looks like this: 2% student athletes, 98% general student body. WHY are the 98% of us that are not involved in this program being asked to support the 2% that are? And why have I not seen a fund-raising effort, ON CAMPUS, by the Athletics program to help raise the money for their program?
When KCC students went to Nicaragua earlier this summer, we had to raise any funds that weren’t covered by a DONATION from the Foundation. That meant that every student going on this trip had to raise over $1000 each to pay for their costs associated with this trip. I appreciated the Foundation providing such a generous SCHOLARSHIP to each student, it really did help, but I still managed to pay the balance of my trip through hard work and dedication.
Yes, that was a personal throw-in, but that’s what this has come down to. I’m being asked to fork over $3 more PER credit hour to support a program that does NOT benefit me in any way. It’s been said that the Athletics program draws students into KCC; so do our amazing transfer degree programs and our Nursing, Cosmetology, Automotive and Art programs. Sorry, did I forget to mention the other 70+ programs and degrees we offer? I’m willing to bet they draw in a LOT more students (and revenue) than the basketball teams. Combined.
Here’s a link to the Board of Trustees meeting that was held April 21, 2011. I’d really recommend that, as a student, you take a good, hard look at what’s being said about the athletics program and the deficit the program is operating under.
Board meetings are open to EVERY single student. If you don’t want to pay to support an athletic program (which apparently wants to build a recreation center if you follow the KCC Facebook feed), but would rather continue to support the real reason why you’re here at KCC, an EDUCATION, then please attend the next meeting.
The meeting addressing this student activity fee increase will be held on October 20, 2011 at 7pm in the Kirtland House. If you want your voice heard, be there.
If you read my Facebook post, you may remember this line:
I am NOT going to pay more for my education to be an athletic supporter; I am a student, NOT a jock strap.
Go ahead, laugh, I want you to. I also want you to realize that you, too, will become a Jock Strap if you don’t speak up against this fee. Not laughing so hard now, are you?
