• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

Photo

UCLA students are eager to have new facilities in Ackerman Student Union, but when it comes down to footing the bill the response is lukewarm, according to a recent survey from the Associated Students of UCLA.

Many of the union services that students favor – such as more computer lounges and a pub in the Cooperage – will cause the current student union fee to double.

Student Union Director Jerry Mann recognizes that most students don’t want a fee increase, but adds that the ASUCLA survey did not provide compelling reasons for the fee hike.

“The bottom line is, most students don’t want to pay more fees,” Mann said. “But the survey was just to see the initial mood of the campus.”

When asked if they would be willing to pay $20 annually to create new programming funds for the union, more space for student organizations and more Internet access, less than 40 percent of the students surveyed were willing.

Implementing a pub and more computer facilities are just two components of ASUCLA’s Student Union Strategic Initiative – plans to make the union more student-friendly.

The initiative would try to make the student union less of a pit stop for eating, and more of a place for social activity – especially since food was the top reason why students said they visited the student union.

The other top four reasons for visiting the union included: the UCLA store, ATM machines, the restrooms and “killing time between classes.”

The student union fee, which is currently at an annual $7.50, would need to be raised to approximately $20 in order to help pay for the initiative.

ASUCLA is anticipating an online referendum this fall for students to decide between improved Ackerman facilities or maintaining the $7.50 fee.

Lawrence Rubin, who serves as a graduate representative on ASUCLA’s board of directors, isn’t overly concerned about the initial lackluster result of student feedback on the student union fee increase.

“I think a lot of the board is convinced that once the students are clearly shown what they would be getting for their money ... students will be convinced that this will be a worthwhile investment,” Rubin said.

The ASUCLA board of directors – which consists of student and management representatives – is in charge of approving policies for the association.

Though students refuse to pay higher fees to support the union, the majority of UCLA students surveyed were willing to have a fee increase to improve the eating facilities, Mann said.

Inadequate funds could deprive most students of enjoying a sociable student union right now, but lack of space in Ackerman is the other reason why students are not bowling for strikes or watching films in an actual theater, Mann said.

The board recognized the issue of overcrowding, but rejected expanding Ackerman by an additional 35,000 square feet in October due to financial constraints. At that time, the board did not want student fees to increase.

“It would’ve enabled us to add the movie theater and address the overcrowding issue,” Mann said.

But some additions that students wanted to see in the survey are not necessary, Rubin said.

He pointed out that the movie theater, which was the top facility students wanted in the union, is already provided in Ackerman.

“Some services that students request are services that ASUCLA already provides, but they just might not be aware of it,” Rubin said.

Not being aware of the facilities that Ackerman offers is one reason why third-year biochemistry student Arjang Naminik doesn’t spend much of his free time in the union.

“We don’t really know what they have ... they don’t really have anywhere to socialize besides the arcade,” said Naminik, who prefers meeting with friends on the Kerckhoff patio to anywhere else in Ackerman.

ASUCLA e-mailed the week-long survey to 2,000 graduate and undergraduate students at the end of April to gather student feedback on what they wanted to see in the student union.

Questions on the survey ranged from where students spend most of their free time on campus to their top five complaints about the student union.

“The survey was so helpful to us because it helps us prioritize the services students need or feel are essential to their time at UCLA,” Rubin said.