Student fee hike proposed

By Suzanne Johnson, On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, September 28, 1998

Although no formal proposal has been submitted, talk of imposing a technology fee on California State University students is circulating.

The proposed $100 yearly fee would entitle students to Internet access at home through their local campus dial-in, copies of Microsoft Office for individual student use, computer-based training (CBT) on MS Office and other applications, and access to a systemwide call center and help desk.

"It is a several-pronged initiative to update our technology needs," said Ken Swisher, spokesman for the Chancellor's Office.

Student opposition has been strong. Last month, Humboldt State University passed a resolution against the proposed fee. Evan Blasingame, California State Student Association representative at HSU, said that the CSU is a public institution and therefore should not enter into binding contracts with the private sector.

This was a major concern of students, faculty and staff who were opposed to the now defunct California Education Technology Initiative proposal.

As set forth in the California Higher Education Master Plan, the state of California has the fundamental responsibility to provide adequate funding for the needs of the CSU system.

"Students should be the last resort," said CSULB Associated Students Inc. President Christy Zamani.

The fact that the fee would be mandatory, even for students who do not own home computers and thus would not benefit from a major portion of the initiative, concerns many. In addition, the fee would support many of the services already offered for free on most CSU campuses.

Supporters say the $50 a semester fee is comparable to purchasing a textbook, only one obtains a greater wealth of knowledge.

Cal State Dominguez Hills students approved a campuswide $70 per year technology fee last semester. The revenues have been used to extend hours in the computer lab as well as update equipment, said Don Adams, executive director for information and technology at CSUDH.

Students at HSU are recommending that a committee of interested students, faculty, staff and administrators be formed to work with the CSU in order to explore and implement a non-fee alternative to the proposal.