The Associated Students, Inc. Senate eliminated agency transaction fees for Cal State Long Beach student organizations at Wednesday’s meeting.
The “Student Organization Free Banking and Open Access Act” was passed by the Senate, eliminating the four percent fee that more than 330 CSULB student organizations pay for each transaction.
The charges for banking had led many student organizations to conduct their banking off-campus, where transactions were free of any processing fees.
Several senators openly expressed their support of the resolution, with Sen. Megan Miller and Sen. Brian Lojeck both describing the act as “fantastic” and “a great idea,” noting that there was little to no opposition within their respective colleges toward the idea.
The elimination of the agency transaction fees was postponed for its third reading until after ASI Executive Director Richard Haller outlined the 2007-2008 ASI Operating Budget Recommendations.
Haller detailed how the budget will include a freeze on all salaries and wages effective from July 1, and how the Senate will accommodate for a reduction in revenue resulting from a planned decrease in full-time enrollment in summer.
An enrollment cut of 41 percent for the summer will result in a loss of more than $72,000 in mandatory student fees.
In other ASI Senate news, students will be given a chance to vote on the proposed “Open Lunch” experiment research, with a question being placed on the ballot for next week’s ASI elections.
The “Open Lunch” period proposes that no classes be scheduled between the hours of noon and 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays as part of an experiment to permit CSULB students to attend club meetings during that time.
Sen. Lojeck, who sponsored the resolution, said that the motion to put the question on the ballot was a positive step forward.
“I know a lot of people in [the Senate] wanted more information, and this will be a good thing for that,” said Lojeck.
ASI vice presidential candidate Jason Aula also spoke to the Senate regarding his plan to resurrect the former LBSU football team by 2009/2010 with an increase of $10 per student in annual fees.
In its budget discussion however, the Senate mentioned that a fee increase of $140 would be required to fund an LBSU football team again, and that $10 per student fee “wouldn’t even reach a coach’s salary,” according to Haller.
