"I have been fighting all year"
That’s the denoueument of the over-realized process begun by changes Dotters-Katz made to the Clark Document. The Spring Term I-fee is now $95, while it was $195.
Put in those terms, the $400 total that would save a current, out-of-state freshman by the time he or she graduated would appears minuscule next to the $107,916 it is estimated four years of school at the University would cost on average.
But, as former Commentator editor Ted Niedermeyer points out on the publication’s blog, while taking credit for the fee reduction on the publication’s behalf, the political impact is explosive. One of the two great factions in student government is the one that wants, at all costs, to lower or even eliminate this fee. And, though I’m no ASUO historian, I don’t think it’s ever been done so substantially. If you want to read Sam Dotters-Katz’s press release on the subject, here it is:
EUGENE, Ore.— The University of Oregon’s incidental fee, paid by all students each term to fund student programs and services, will be reduced from $195 to $95 per student for Spring Term, making it the lowest such fee in well over a decade.
The Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO) Executive will use the over-realized fund to buy down the incidental fee while sustaining more programs and services than have ever been offered to university students.
“I have been fighting all year to make sure we are putting our extra funds back in the pockets of students,” said ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz, who has been working on this issue since the beginning of Fall Term. “Fiscal responsibility does not mean slashing budgets. It means using the money we already have transparently and responsibly.”
Spring Term’s estimated over-realized fund has been accounted for with a comfortable cushion to ensure that budget obligations will be met, and so that some extra funds will be left over for student groups and programs. Also, funds will first be allocated to cover the cost of administrative assessments that would otherwise be charged, for the first time ever, to each student group and program.
This initiative addresses the rising costs of living and tuition for students, as well as a worsening economic recession. Students will receive more services for less money than in previous years, illuminating the ASUO’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Not everyone in the student government supported Dotters-Katz’s plan, especially the ASUO Student Senate. During the senate meeting that Dotters-Katz outlined his plan, some senators went so far as to call for a resolution denouncing the President and the buy-down plan.
“I am confident that the entire ASUO, whether in favor of giving the money back to students or not, can agree that we are making great strides to increase the access and affordiability of higher education,” said Dotters-Katz.
The buy-down will apply to undergraduates, graduate students, and Law students as well.
———-
Sam Dotters-Katz
President
Associated Students University of Oregon
asuopres@uoregon.edu
(541) 346-0624
Portions in italics are corrections.
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Comments
But, as former ASUO Sen. Ted Niedermeyer points out in the Oregon Commentator, while taking credit for the fee reduction on the publication’s behalf…
You do realize that Ted used to be the Editor-in-Chief of the Commentator, and that he crusaded for fiscal responsibility in student government for years right?
Oh, you didn’t?
“Not everyone in the student government supported Dotters-Katz’s plan, especially the ASUO Student Senate.”
Really now? There were a couple senators that outright opposed the reduction, and several senators that disagreed “strongly” about the communication lapse (between Senate and Exec) of the I-fee reduction. The majority of senate approved, and even welcomed the I-fee reduction, even those that disagreed regarding the communication.
There’s a difference between criticism and opposition.
Just a heads up… I’m the former OC editor, not a former Senator. Also, the issue isn’t so much the sheer volume of money being returned to students. What matters most is that over a million bucks of said student money won’t be wasted on the insanity known as the overrealized appropriations this year. The overrealized fund was a stealth tax on students that was given away to politically well-connected groups in a process that had no rules and no accountability. Treating this money as fundamentally belonging to students is a matter of responsible governance, not simply the agenda of a “faction that that wants, at all costs, to lower or even eliminate this fee.”
Also, I (and the OC) don’t take credit for this decision per se. Sam and Johnny were the ones who got to the position to make this decision and then actually followed through on it. They deserve all the credit and thanks. I merely wanted to point out that the OC has been calling for this kind of responsible administration of the I-Fee for decades. Now that it has come to pass, I’m sure I’m not the only former ASUO watcher or member who is amazed and happy.
Congratulations to Sam and Johnny and everyone else who worked on this!