Natalicio urges agenda on SGA

At a special meeting held Sept. 2, UTEP President Diana Natalicio urged Student Government Association senators to support the Campus Life and Athletic Enhancement Initiative fee and get it to pass before the end of the fall semester.

"I want to know how can we approach students, if there is a level in where students would support the fee," Natalicio said.

Although senators' opinions about the athletic fee are divided, after the meeting with Natalicio, they voted unanimously for the creation of an athletic fee task force.

"I'm not supporting the athletic fee, but we need to inform students, that's why I voted for the task force," said Alejandra Valles, senior Spanish major and SGA Senator-at-Large.

Last semester, during the SGA regular elections March 10-11, the student body voted against the athletic fee 2,339 to 1,267. The fee would have students pay $10 per credit hour starting in fall 2011 and would increase an additional $2 per credit hour in 2012 and 2013. According to university officials, the fee would "support UTEP athletics by increasing revenue and providing a stable funding base for athletics, cultivating interaction between student-athletes and increasing funding of game-day entertainment, promotions and giveaways."

Currently, the student services fee is $15 per credit hour, with a maximum of $180 for 12 credit hours. If the athletic fee passes, students will pay a total of $276 in student fees.

During the meeting, Natalicio presented a series of benefits that the athletic fee would bring to UTEP including enhancing the image and reputation of the university by bringing national and regional media attention.

"Athletics is a window for universities, everyone talks about sports," Natalicio said.

To initiate the fee, more than 50 percent of the student body would have to approve it, and then it would go before the Texas State Legislature for review approval. The legislature meets every two years and the next session begins in January 2011.

"In order to present the fee to the legislature, we need students to pass the fee before December," Natalicio said.

An SGA senator said athletics might not be a priority for regular students.

"It's hard for students to approve it because they are not engaged, most of the students are not involved in athletics," said Emmanuel Arzate, junior mechanical engineering major and SGA Senator-at-large.

Senators asked Natalicio how SGA could persuade students to pass a new fee when tuition continues to increase.

"We don't want to raise tuition, we are trying to do more with less," Natalicio said. "We are very low in athletic expenses, we are not extravagant."

During the next few weeks, SGA is going to discuss the task force's goals and procedures.

Nicole Chávez may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.