The Student Government Association elections on Feb. 28 will not only offer students an opportunity to vote for next year’s Senate, but it is also a chance for students to voice their opinions regarding the Athletic Fee.

The proposed fee states that undergraduate students would pay a mandatory $15 Athletic Fee per semester.  Graduate students would have the option to pay the fee. This will provide students with the opportunity to get one of 1,000 free tickets to all home games during the men’s basketball season.

Students currently pay $10 for admission to each home game unless they purchase season tickets that sell for $135.

SGA has the power to impose a fee on students without their vote, such as the implementation of the Wellness Fee in 2010. However, SGA President Courtney Anvender said that they felt that offering the vote to students would have the best outcome and would allow students to make the fee happen if they support it.

“I’ve had some students say this is an awful idea, but others have told me this is a great idea,” Anvender said.  “I say to both sides, vote that way.  This is their choice.”

By voting “yes” on the referendum, students are agreeing to pay the fee for both semesters of the academic year.  Though every student will be required to pay, not every student will be able to attend each home game.  The fee will only allot 1,000 seats for every game, so a method of distribution will need to be finalized.

“By the end of this year, we need to figure out the distribution details,” Anvender said.

According to Anvender, if the fee passes more student feedback will be gathered and the distribution plan will be worked out.

The issue of too few seats has already been considered.  Anvender said she and various administrators involved in the creation of this fee believe 1,000 seats will be enough, but they are not eliminating the possibility of adding more if the need arises.

Anvender said she had worked extensively with various administrators, including Vice President of Student Development Kent Porterfield and Director of Athletics Chris May, to formulate and finalize the fee and the corresponding referendum.  The plan was also presented to the President’s Coordinating Council and the Board of Trustees, both of which showed interest and were “receptive” to the proposition, Anvender said.

If the fee passes, it is not guaranteed student attendance will increase, but Porterfield believes the fee would help remove barriers to student attendance.

“I do know that if I’m paying for something I’m going to use it,” he said.  “A lot of it will be determined by how busy students are and how good the team is. Everyone likes to cheer on a winning team,” Porterfield said.

May said the referendum approach is a feasible plan to make the fee successful.  He also said this fee could provide a way for campus pride to be increased.

“When you’re building campus pride, one way you can do that is through athletics,” May said.  “This can develop a culture of enthusiasm and create a real opportunity to grow the collegiate atmosphere.”

May also said the real strength of this fee is that it is a student-driven issue and the voice of the students can drive greater change.  “That’s exciting,” he said.

While the administration and SGA have their opinions on the fee, the voice of the student body will make the decision on the referendum, and that voice features many mixed opinions.

“I’m totally for it,” Mike Putnam, senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said.  “[Students] really respond to the free ticket.”

Putnam compared the Athletic Fee to the fee students are charged for the Simon Recreational Center. All students pay for access to the Rec Center, but not all students utilize the resources provided.

“It’s up to the students to take advantage of it,” Putnam said.  “Ten dollars is a lot for college students to pay time after time so if you want to put butts in the seats and spark enthusiasm then you have to lower costs.”

Though SGA will not take a side on the fee, some senators were not afraid to show their support.

Eric Lampe, a representative of the College of Arts and Sciences, made an announcement in Senate on Feb. 23 of his recently created Facebook event, “VOTE YES FOR ATHLETIC FEE.”  As of press time, the event had 170 attendees.

Other students do not see the benefits of an Athletic Fee.

“I am opposed to the fee because I don’t think students who are not interested in attending games or supporting SLU’s basketball team should have to pay,” Terrence Murphy, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said.
When asked if this is a student-initiated fee, Murphy said the fee would essentially be imposed upon the student body because “a minority of students vote in the SGA elections, so this is not truly the opinion of the entire student body.”

Bani Saluja, sophomore in the School of Public Health, said she is not in support either, but for different reasons.

“I don’t attend as many games as I like, but price doesn’t keep me away,” Saluja said. “My schedule is so busy. Basketball games aren’t high on my priority list.”

Saluja also mentioned that there are already a few free games per year and these suffice for her.

“I don’t want to pay $30 more a year for games I probably won’t attend,” Saluja said.

Only the results of Monday’s elections will determine if students will be seeing a new fee on their bills, and only students will be able to make the decision.