SGA claims to advocate for the UCA student body yet fails to represent students’ true feelings, specifically regarding fee raises.
In fact, it seems as if SGA never disputes these drastic increases, despite the student body expressing disapproval.
On Oct. 7, 2022, the UCA Board of Trustees proposed a “First Year Fee” of $100 for first-time undergraduate students and $50 for transfer students to cover Welcome Week Activities.
In response, SGA President Courtney Clawson said, “Every student that comes through a SOAR session over the summer has to pay this fee anyway, or they have to pay out of pocket. By adding this fee, it would allow financial aid to cover these costs and prevent the financial burden that comes with families having to pay upfront.”
Board Policy No. 634 passed, despite no first-year fee being in place before this.
$50 for a SOAR overnight session or $25 for a one-day session without room and board is not a significant expense for a parent — $100 for an undergraduate student is.
During its February 2023 meeting, the board of trustees announced the highest percentage increase in room and board rates since 2019.
Clawson, once again, did not communicate dissent.
“We understand that this increase is necessary in order to keep UCA functioning the way that it needs to,” she said. “We are very thankful for a university that keeps students and our wallets at the forefront for every decision.”
A 5% increase in room and board rates does not scream consideration for the students’ wallets.
There is no reluctance in the way SGA thanks the board of trustees for making the rest of the school’s lives that much harder. Their emphatic support feels like a slap in the face.
Former SGA president Mya Hall reacted similarly to the 4.48% increase in room and board rates in February 2022.
“The student body recognizes the benefits of the increases and thanks to the university for continuing to make our housing and residence life great,” Hall said.
These SGA presidents are not wrong about the necessity of fee increases, no matter how unlikeable they may be for the student body. Colleges need to function, and unfortunately, that means implementing unpopular costs.
However, part of loving and supporting UCA, or any institution for that matter, is the willingness to critique it.
A student government that fears its board of trustees establishes an unhealthy dynamic; the inability to say no opens the door for students to be taken advantage of.
Instead of blindly showing vehement support for heavy fee increases, SGA should be more critical of the administration.
A student body will grow to resent its student government if it does not accurately represent its wants and needs, especially a student government that allows the administration to step over everyone.
SGA members want to show politeness and gratitude to the board of trustees during these meetings, but a compromise can be courteous too.
SGA can work toward less dramatic increases, no increases at all or increases elsewhere.
UCA is still a business; it will not hesitate to suck its students dry if it means more money.
It is in SGA’s best interest to voice the study body’s concerns in an appropriate yet commanding manner. The power belongs to the people, not the institution.