Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                Chris Elliott                        Zach Lee                  Christian Palmer
                Geronimo Rodriguez       Blake Whitaker       Kristen Young

SFAC works for you; let them know it
 
The Student Fees Advisory Committee begins meeting today to decide what University programs will get what student fees, and students are invited to watch as each program and department presents its proposal.

 Every semester, students complain their money is not going where they want it to, and this is the time to learn how the system works.

 A full schedule of today's presentations is on the front page, and the hearings will continue through Feb. 21. Everyone who gets any part of their funding from student fees will be reviewed. Even The Daily Cougar takes part in the process when the Department of Student Publications makes its presentation at 1 p.m. today.

 Anyone with complaints or concerns should try to be there for at least part of the meetings, and a public comment period is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. The schedule only allows for 15 minutes of public comments before the committee breaks for lunch, so it is vital that those who wish to speak be there on time. 

 Student attendance, during both the presentations and the public comment periods (there is one on every day the committee meets), are strong indicators of student interest in the way fee money is spent. It's very easy to write a letter to the editor, but it takes a little more effort to actually speak to the committee that makes the decisions.

 It's up to students to make the public comment period spill into the lunch break and leave committee members hungry but on their toes. On the other hand, comment periods will likely be cut short if there are not enough students to take up at least the 15 minutes on the schedule. If you can't make one comment period, go to another, even if it's not on the same day as the presentation that interests you.

 Students need to make the most of this chance to affect the way their money will be spent next year by going to the meetings for as long as they can. Even if they can only stop by for 30 minutes between classes, their attendance shows the committee student fees are not to be trifled with -- they will not be used irresponsibly without students knowing about it.