Thaddeus Miller / The Collegian

A state senator introduced a measure, which would cap fee increases for students, to Fresno State Friday.

Republican Sen. Jeff Denham held a press conference in front of the Henry Madden Library where he presented his measure that would institute a 10 percent cap on fee increases within the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC) systems, and provide a 180-day waiting period before students would have to pay those increases.

“We already had a 30 percent fee increase which many of us voted against,” Denham said. “We want to make sure there isn’t a 30 percent increase next year. When does it stop?”

Denham said this measure would allow students adequate time to financially plan for fee hikes which will result in fewer students dropping out.

CSU student fees climbed 27 percent in the past fiscal year and fees have risen 190 percent since 2003.

“I worked two jobs going through college,” Denham said. “These types of increases would have forced me to drop out. I think it’s forcing a number of our students to drop out,” Denham said.

“Many other states have a three or six percent cap. We are asking for a 10 percent cap that should provide plenty of flexibility. A 10 percent cap is something UC and CSU systems can live by,” Denham said.

Vice president for student affairs Paul Oliaro said that the measure is worthy of discussion, but limiting what the CSU system can do while facing a multi-million dollar deficit could cause further problems.

“When you are enforcing limits it can result in deeper class cuts and a reduction of services,” Oliaro said. “Our ultimate goal is to provide quality education for the students to earn their degrees.”

ASI president Jessica Sweeten was also hesitant about restricting the amount student fees can be increased.

“The board of trustees and the board of regents do want the flexibility,” Sweeten said. “We do not know when the state is going to cut us like they did last year.”

Sweeten said that the CSU chose to increase the student fees and implement furlough days for the faculty in order to make up the deficit.

Denham disagreed stating that the CSU and UC systems should make up the deficit by being more fiscally responsible.

“This measure will force CSU and UC systems to live up to their means and the state government to do the same,” Denham said. “There are those that don’t want to cut the waste. There are a lot of common sense measures out there.”

Denham proposed that the University of California should sell its properties in Hawaii and Tahiti and close down the University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States.

In December, a Sacramento Bee article reported that the CSU wrongly reimbursed a high-ranking official $152,000 for expenses. The CSU system paid the official for stays at luxurious hotels and travel around the world, as well as internet and phone service at home.

If the measure passes through the legislature Gov. Schwarzenegger will need to sign it into law where it will immediately take effect.

“I think it’s going to be a tough fight,” Denham said. “But, it is a bipartisan measure. We have democrats on the bill who co-authored. I do think we got a fight ahead of us. But I think it’s a fight the students are going to win.”