Student organization to discuss long-term CSU fee increases

CSSA may propose fee increases, financial aid ideas to CSU board of directors

By Martha Martinez

A statewide student organization may make suggestions for a long-term, annual fee increase to the CSU board of trustees and state legislature after its monthly conference, held at Fresno State this weekend.

The California State Student Association is trying to construct a permanent fee increase schedule instead of slowly progressing increases, so students will be better prepared for the rising fees.

The CSSA will discuss the fees, financial aid and vote on a variety of issues. Those issues are then expressed to the state legislature, the governor, board of trustees and other governmental and private agencies that may be needed.

In order for a school to be able to vote in CSSA conferences, dues need to be paid. Fresno State does not pay the $12,000 fees necessary to be involved in the voting process at the conferences.

“ Just because we can’t vote doesn’t mean we can’t talk,” AS President Neil Gibson said. Gibson said that Fresno State is still represented by the CSSA and that the school is actively involved in discussions.

Fresno State stopped paying dues in last spring when the CSSA was dealing with issues the school wasn’t involved with.

“ We weren’t interested in [the CSSA’s] issues and the issues they were working on,” AS Secretary Amy Armstrong said.

A shift in the issues that the CSSA is dealing with is leading Fresno State to reconsider paying the dues necessary to vote, Gibson said. He said he hopes more students will attend the conference and be more involved because they are represented by the CSSA.

The CSSA represents the CSU’s 23 campuses, which consist of more than 400,000 students. The CSSA deals with issues regarding students, faculty and policies. A different university campus hosts the conference each month. About 43 Associated Students representatives will attend the conference from various California State Universities.

The conference will be held at the Residence Dining Hall on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open to the public and public comment sessions will be held each day.