Freshmen may soon be forced to pay for residence hall-sponsored pizza
parties, ice cream socials and barbecues. The general body of the Residence Hall Association voted Oct. 29 to make a currently optional $20 fee mandatory for all freshmen.

Residence hall dues are the only source of funding for residence hall programs and events, according to the legislation. These programs “provide an environment conducive to meeting new people.”

Junior Noel Frame, president of the Residence Hall Association, said freshmen are the ones who need and take advantage of these programs the most. Frame said the fee will help spread the wealth around campus.

“Some of the smaller halls such as Lafayette and Crawford don’t have much money compared to Thurston and Mitchell, who do have the money,” Frame said.

The money would go into an account and be allocated on a per bed basis in each freshman residence hall.

The Student Association voted down legislation Oct. 30 to support the RHA effort.

“I understand where the RHA was coming from,” SA Executive Vice President Josh Singer said. “It is a good idea in theory, but students do not need another fee on their tuition bill. We pay enough money for housing. Programming and event fees should be collected from the thousands we already pay.”

The RHA says the legislation also provides a simple way to collect the money.

The $20 would be added to the Community Living and Learning Center line on the tuition bill, Frame said.

But, Mark Levine, assistant dean of students, said RHA must get University approval before allowing such a fee.

“RHA cannot decide to add a line to the tuition bill. There is a process to go through. RHA needs to talk to a number of people . including the board of trustees,” Levine said.

Students said they were surprised to learn their residence hall fee was optional in the first place.

Freshman Jeff Schrimmer was asked to pay the fee when he moved into the Hall on Virginia Avenue, even though he said he “grumbled” about paying the fee with his community facilitator.

“I was told it was optional, but it was highly suggested that I pay. I almost did not get my key,” he said.

Shira Rosenwald, RHA representative of Thurston Hall, said the fee is unnecessary because money can come from other sources.

“I don’t think asking it to be mandatory would be fair,” she said. “If people don’t want to go to programming, why do they have to pay? Programming will get done if people want programming no matter what.”

Not all students are opposed to the legislation.

“I agree with the fee because particularly in a hall like this, there are 56 freshmen,” said freshman Morgan Pierson, president of Somers Hall at Mount Vernon. “In a hall like this, some kids get away with not paying, and we don’t have the funds for events.”

Somers Hall was able to have a barbecue for residents last week but only with co-sponsorship funds from RHA, Pierson said.

“Events are usually after dinner, a time you don’t want to eat,” said Thurston resident Sandy Durnin. “There is never anything on the floor either.

“I was told I had to pay,” she said. “I was with my mom and she had the money. If not, I couldn’t get my key.”

Other students said they wished more students would pay their residence hall fee.

Sophomore Bud Jerke, RHA representative for New Hall, said he would like more funding for events, such as an upcoming paintball trip. He said door contests and photos of the week have increased hall spirit.

“I have to look to co-sponsor events and making sure there is money before planning them. New Hall hopes to give awards out for our hall contests, but we don’t have the money,” Jerke said.