By The California State Student Association may soon see an increase in funding following a proposal made by two Cal State Long Beach student government representatives.
On Saturday, Associated Students Inc. President John Haberstroh and Vice President Jonathon Bolin proposed a voluntary $1 to $2 student fee increase for CSSA funding.
If the semesterly fee is passed, the resolution could give the CSSA nearly $800,000 in additional funding.
According to Bolin, the voluntary fee increase would improve CSSA’s ability to serve students.
“Since I’ve been in CSSA, we’ve needed to have a funding model because right now, it’s just not working out,” Bolin said. “We represent more than 400,000 students, and we have membership dues of about $300,000.”
Haberstroh also said that students who don’t want to pay the voluntary $1 or $2 fee can opt out.
Because CSSA represents the collective interests of all Cal State University students, we support the proposed fee.
Let’s face it. CSU students could always use a stronger voice in the state capitol.
With the increase to CSSA’s funding, we hope the organization could better represent students and fight against tuition and fee increases.
Representing students at the state level should ensure that our voices are heard.
Allowing students who do not want to pay the additional fee the ability to opt-out is an added benefit to this proposal.
Because it is so small compared to the cost of tuition and fees, we feel all CSU students should want to pay the CSSA fee.
Before we give our full support to this new fee, though, we’d like to see exactly where and how the additional revenue would be spent by CSSA.
Before the resolution is voted on in January, we would like to see Habestroh and Bolin identify how the increased funding would be allocated.
If the additional funds go to the paychecks of certain individuals, then our support would fade.
Our support will continue, however, if the funds go to ensuring that the voice of CSU students is heard.
We’re eager to see what’s in store for this potential fee.
