I am staff and would not qualify for this. However I would think this would get the students more involved.

Personally I think this is a great idea because I would never be able to afford a season pass at Ripley, or even the $17 per round of golf fee.

Wait.  USG chose to have students pay towards the Memorial Union Building and the Student Development Complex?  What is that about?  Am I reading that right?  Did USG feel as though the student body in general wanted to give Tech more money?  MTU makes a lot of money at both of these buildings everyday off of the students that attend their school; buildings that the same students helped pay for in the first place?  That makes perfect sense.

This is AWESOME!!! Now if this doesn't happen, I will be mad that you told us we could have it that good! I really want this to happen!

I agree with the above comment about the MUB and SDC fees. It's ridiculous that I have to pay $50 in fees and still get charged 3 bucks for a slice of bad pizza. I mean, look at how much traffic the MUB gets, they're raking it in during lunch time every day. 50 cents extra for ranch??? cmon people thats highway robbery!

I know how you feel. However the fact is that the MUB would have to close it's doors or run a deeper deficit if not for increased prices. They receive very little money from tuition. Check out their website if you're curious. <a href="http://www.aux.mtu.edu/mub/safprojects.shtml">http://www.aux.mtu.edu/mub/safprojects.shtml </a>They're also very welcoming if you stop by their office in the MUB.  

Read the '<a href="http://www.usg.mtu.edu/techexp/index.php?curpage=187">Another Fee?</a>' Page for more info about how Student Fees work.

Will the graduate students be included?

You had me at "unlimited" and "golf".  Get this done, son.

Will this idea only work assuming that not all students will take advantage of the Tech Experience? For example, if all students that pay for the Tech Experience actually participate in it, will it still be a viable option? I think the idea sounds great, but probably because I would likely participate in all the free events. However, I'm not sure all my fellow students who aren't using these facilities should be paying for me to enjoy them. Now, it is possible that some students will only use one or two of the "experiences", and possibly balance things out that way. I would like more information on this subject though.

Right now I don't use any of these services, but I know if they were available at a cost of just $60/semester that was included in my student bill, I would definitely take the opportunity to go skiing on the weekends, and maybe even see a hockey game for the first time in my four years here. I think it is definitely a great chance to get involved with Tech in a whole new way!

I agree VERY much: "However, I'm not sure all my fellow students who aren't using these cailities should be paying for me to enjoy them."

This should be an optional cost.  I think this is another way for them to get money since the MUB expansion fee is not being charged anymore.  I would have no use for the "Tech Experiance" so I would not want to pay 60 dollars more for something I dont use on an already expensive tech bill.

p><font face="Arial">Stop complaining! They are trying to do something nice for the students, obviously everyone is not going to take advantage of this opportunity, but I'm sure that most students will! It is a very good idea and hopefully it goes through! I know many people, including myself, who would use almost everything included in this fee.</p

For all of you out there who say that you wouldn't use this, GET OUT THERE AND TRY SOMETHING NEW!!!!

Not all fees are used by 100% of students, but all are there for the betterment of the student body of a whole. Granted, you may not use every opportunity given by the Experience Tech Fee, but it's a chance to have a wider variety of experiences at Tech.

I agree that it should be optional. Personally, I would take advantage of it, but many people might not be interested.

I think this is a little misleading as students already pay mub expansion fees, sdc fees, etc. Why does a student have to pay for the mub expansion, pay high prices for bad food....getting a little off the point......the fee is a good idea but should not be imposed on everyone at will like the mub fees!!

I have been to about 2 Hockey game, I haven't been back because Hickey isn't my thing. We have about 3 weeks to golf once we get up to school in the Fall. I don't use these facilities because I don't have time.   I don't think we should all pay for a few students to use these facilities.

the problem with it being optional is money. if only those who use it pay for it, then intead of mont ripley and whoever else breaking even, they begin to lose money.it would be a dying thing real fast. but, if all places got a portion to support the students, they'd be fine

You may want to additionally clarify that it's Visual and Performing Arts Department productions only.  Not only does the fee not include Great Events Series, but also does not include Student Entertainment Board events or any rentals or promoter events held at the Rozsa.  It's a really important point to get across.  Maybe using examples such as student theatre productions, wind symphony and concert band, The Troupe performances, etc. would be a good idea.

This whole thing won't work if it's optional.  The idea is to spread the cost out among all the students, not just the ones who already use the facilities.  If the $60 is only paid by those who would otherwise pay hundreds for each individual service, the money will dry up really quickly.  This is a great idea, and Tech definitely should do it.  I don't think an extra $60 is that much of a burden to students who are paying thousands every semester to go to school here.

It doesn't seems a good idea. Those who are not using why they should pay?

I like this idea. It helps students unite to feel as a proud member of MTU community.

Great idea. I like it

Would this include the SDC entry fee also then?

These activities are all things that I would like to do and already participate in.  The Experience Tech fee would save me money (on car insurance?).

The SDC is already free for students. We don't have an entry fee.

Great idea! These facilities should have been included in the student activity fees all along, just like the SDC and the MUB.

Being optional would completely demolish the whole point of this in the first place. No, not everyone will use all of them, and some people won't use any; but that's the point, speaking from an economical standpoint. The only way this works is if the fees are assessed on all of the students. The people who are asking for it to be optional are really use in favor of what we have now: if you use it, you pay for it. You cannot have it both ways, only pay if you use AND pay virtually nothing for it. I already buy a season pass to Ripley every year, and would love to use Gates and watch hockey games, but those , to me, aren't worth the money charged. If I could get access to all three for less than the price of just Ripley, I'm all in. If you don't like paying for something you don't use, then use it!

When is this University going to get serious about recycling??  I think it is about time people start  thinking about conserving our resources instead of promoting excessive use, for example golfing contributes to polluting our water by dumping fertilizers and chemicals on the non-native grass, Mt Ripley's lights on at night.  It is time people get out of living in the bubble (C02 bubble) and wake up.  Vote NO!!

^^^^ Do you honestly think they will not fertilize the golf course or turn off the lights at Mt. Ripley because we vote no?!   Having more people using these facilities requires absolutely no extra resources.  They will still fertilize the grass and have the lights on at Ripley.  Why not look at it in a positive light, and recognize that we will be getting more use out of the resources these facilities require?  I think this is a great idea to get students out of their rooms and more active in the school and community.

This is an amazing idea. wake up people its a great deal. i mean season tickets to hockey is like $80 and a ski pass is more than $250, not to mention the other stuff thats included. This can save you a lot of money, vote yes

To the people saying that this should be an optional thing, the whole idea is that the low price is made possible by every student paying it, the students that don't use it at all make up for those who use the facilities alot.  If it were made optional, the price would go way up.  It would probably turn more into some sort of ticket package, lift ticket, season tickets to hockey and whatever else.  That would become extrememly expensive.  I think the present plan sounds pretty good.  Maybe the people that won't use the facilities should get out of their rooms and use them.  Granted some people don't have time, or choose not to make it.

I think this is a great idea!!!!!!!!! This will get the student body to participate and enjoy michigan tech a little more, maybe some memories, maybe come out of that cave for only $60. 

"This is an amazing idea. wake up people its a great deal." Yeah, you get people who don't like skiing to buy you a season pass to Ripley anyway!

I think it is rediculus to require all students who are already going seriously into debt to pay for school to pay an additional $120 a year for services that have no relevence to education.

Should already be included in tuition. MTU doesn't know how to budget funds. Glen MROZ salary recap : 05-06' --$195k, 06-07' -$250k,07-08' --$260k
Anyone see where the tuition increase went to?

"Anyone see where the tuition increase went to?" Plasma screens in Fisher?

Building renovations are paid for by state grants, not tuition increases. BOC is smart.

What protection will the students have against this "fee" increasing in price every semester?  Sure, its only $60 a semester now, but I guarantee, like the huge MUB fee, it will soon become $70, then $80, and higher.  This fee is just going to provide a subsidy to the places like the ski hill, and then costs will increase which will drive up the Experience Tech fee.  Lets not provide subsidies to these places like we do the MUB.  The MUB charges the same prices as fast food restaraunts, so where does our MUB fee go to?  Let Sbarro come in and run it like a real business. 

Ben, please see the "Another Fee?" tab (webpage on the left menu).  It states that   "A 3 year stability was accounted for when creating the fee.  If passed, it would be fixed at $60/semester for the next three years."  Thanks, NK

so what about this referandum in december? didn't hear about it, don't see anything about it, did it happen???????

Check out the "Current Progress" page.  The referendum is scheduled for Feb. 18-25.  Don't worry, you didn't miss it :)

This is ridiculous, I want my trail fees paid for, for snowmobiling as well!

For those of you who say you won't use any of the experiences provided by the fee: One reason for the fee is to encourage you to try experiences you haven't had before.  It's a low cost oppotunity to take part in cultural and  outdoor activies you have not experienced before without making a serious financial committment.  You really can't lose if you only tried a few new things each year.

How is first come, first serve for hockey "unlimited access?" If I don't get their in time, I have to pay for a seat anyway? What if we don't want to sit in a designated student section? This doesn't really seem like a good option for people who already have season tickets. Basically in order to ensure that I have a seat I want, I have to get season tickets when I'm theoretically paying for tickets anyway? I had hoped something better could have been worked out for this.

Assuming we get 100% efficiency with this and get everyone going out doing stuff, the same problem as if it were optional will occur. The companies would start losing money and the plan will be eliminated. Yes, I know it is idealistic to think that 100% efficiency will be attained, but if this plan was not aimed for it to get everyone out and trying stuff then it was made for a specific group of people and thus, to some extent, discriminating against the rest of the Tech community that has to pay for that selected few.

There should be an opt out for people that do not wish to do anything with this as not everyone is interested in anything offered in this plan.  I am personally getting sick of all the useless fees which have been imposed upon the students when not everyone is using the resources that the fee is catering to.  Why should I have to pay for someone to go to Mt. Ripley etc if I myself do not want anything to do with it.  If someone wants to go somewhere specific like a function etc they should need to pay for it them self rather than for people like myself that do not wish to have anything to do with it. 

Assuming we get 100% efficiency with this and get everyone going out doing stuff, the same problem as if it were optional will occur. The companies would start losing money and the plan will be eliminated. Yes, I know it is idealistic to think that 100% efficiency will be attained, but if this plan was not aimed for it to get everyone out and trying stuff then it was made for a specific group of people and thus, to some extent, discriminating against the rest of the Tech community that has to pay for that selected few.

It would be nice if you actually advertised your vote, nice trying to squeak it through.

Yes yes. i would really like this to be an option. Not only would students save money, but the additional income that may be received could help improve facilities and offerings. Perhaps extended hours at Mont Ripley???

I would not use most of these services. I cannot ski or golf, and I get into all of the sporting events free because i am in the pepband  . I dont think this fee is fair to those students that would never use it.

I would like it if it included skating at the SDC too.  I'm in pep band so while I wouldn't need any of these services it would benefit many on campus

I think that people are thinking this fee is something that it's not.  Unlike the MUB expansion fee and the SDC fee which exist to build the university's coffers to expand and improve these buildings, this fee would go directly to the people who's services and facilities are being utilized.  For example, the Pep Band would get a portion to allow for the purchase of stripes, new music, and instruments.  This is funds that they wouldn't have available if people were to just purchase season tickets for hockey, or the like.  Sure, the fee isn't fair to those who will not make use of it, but there is very little that is fair in the university.  Overall, I think that this fee would greatly improve the quality of service and attendance at these events.  However, I do have one thing to point out for advertising purposes.  If hockey tickets are awarded on a FCFS basis, that is NOT unlimited access, it is in fact, very limited access.

I think that more suspect than this Experience Tech fee is USG's methodology for the allocation of the SAF and how they are attempting to turn every student organization into a programming board.  How is it that Keweenaw Pride's funding for one of the most highly attended free student events on campus gets cut, yet USG sees it fit to still spend many times as much money on a free Christian rock concert with roughly the same attendance?  If one simply takes the number of people in attendance and divides by the amount of money USG allocated for the event, it becomes very clear that Drag Show is a much better bang for the buck to than a Christian rock concert.  I also think that USG needs to communicate with the academic departments to see what they give money for.  USG claims that the VPA is responsible for giving the Pep Band money for things like instrument repair, stripes, and crowd interaction, yet the VPA doesn't have the money to do that.  Get it together people.   

If only I wasn't graduating....I could have gone skiing so much more!

I can only imagine a much larger group of students coming to nthe hockey games, making the hockey games taht much more enjoyable and making it that much harder for any opponent to succeed on Husky home ice.

p>As a parent I know that we will receive substantial savings for activities our son would participate in anyway.  And at that price it will hopefully encourage others to try something they couldn't have afforded before.  For those that are complaining about paying for something they wouldn't use - try some of those activities, perhaps you'll find you'll enjoy the experience!</p

This is rediculous, I dont know how anyone could think this is ethical, to charge everyone so that a few dont have to pay for their activities. I personally dont regularly go to any of these activities and this fee would be gross waste of my tuition money. Tuition is high enough already, if people want to participate then they should pay their own way, if you cant afford it you should get a job and pay for it yourself.

YES!!!  Please move forward with this.  There would definitly be a savings for us with Mont Ripley and hockey tickets, plus our son may try golfing and/or some of the Rosza events if he didn't have to pay!!  Great idea!!  Thank you!

I am a parent who is completely in favor of this idea.  To give the students the opportunity to take advantage of these activities/facilities at a reasonable price is a sign that the university wants to see its facilities used.  Students are already assessed student activity fees, social fees, and other support fees when many of them don't necessarily go to all the movies, campus events, etc., that are supported by those.  The important idea is to provide as much of a variety of activities for as many students as possible at as reasonable a price as possible so that all may enjoy their time at Tech.  It would also be a huge selling point for prospective students:  when my son started at Tech he had been told by an alum that the ski hill was free to all.  Obviously it was a huge disappointment that there was now a formidable charge for the ski pass.  It's important to make the campus a "user-friendly" place, as well as a place that encourages healthy activity in a variety ways.  My vote is YES for the Tech Experience Fee!

I think this would be great.  Even though I'm graduating this semester (hopefully) I would really have liked to have this service because I wouldn't have to worry about paying for all these things that I keep hearing about but forgotten to buy tickets.  I would actually use Ripley too!

This is an excellent idea! I'm not sure about the other services, but even if you only going skiing twice at Ripley you've already broken even for the semester. It would be nice to be able to try out some other activities without having to pay an arm and a leg. Heck, if you're not into sports you could try picking up an instrument and earn a gen ed credit while you're at it, this fee is going to give the fine arts department quite a bit more cash.

To the folks who are saying it should be optional, a fee like this can't be optional, or else it wouldn't work.

As a student I say YES YES YES! I think this is a great opportunity! I'd finally be able to afford a ski pass, I'd take up golf, Make it to more hockey games and to more fine art events. If this doesn't happen I will truly be sad. I grew up here and spent everyday after school (in the winter) at the ski hill... that is until passes became way to expensive (Mont Ripley has only so much to offer), I remember when passes were $115 for a student! I have not purchased a pass for the last 5 years because of the price increase. I sorta gave up skiing altogether since. This plan would make me take it up again which would make me feel a whole lot better, haha, winters here are way to long without something to occupy yourself with... (aside from school)

p>This is a great idea.  My son go to alot of the event, so it would be abig money saver for him.  DO IT.</p

p>READ THE FINE PRINT!!!  so everyong pays for hokey tickes, but only a few limited students can go. This is like a scam.</p

p><font face="Arial">I don't go to the hockey games or the fine arts events or use the tennis center, but I still think this is a great idea.  I have stopped snowboarding since I've come to college just because I don't have the money to go, and I've been on ski hills since I was 2.  I love this idea.</p