The Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) is holding a referendum to increase its student levy fee on March 11 and 12.
If the referendum passes, it would increase the current student levy fee by more than 90 per cent, from $25.12 per term to $47.80 per term.
For full-time undergraduate students, the levy would shoot up to $95.60 for the full academic year.
The referendum question states that “the existing fee is no longer sufficient to maintain current services and programming levels due to rising costs from inflation and operational expenses.”
Thomas Martin, a third-year engineering student, said he intends to vote “no” on the referendum. “I feel like I already give so much money to CUSA each semester and I feel like I don’t get much back.”
“The new money that CUSA wants from us is a big amount. Every dollar counts for students and I would rather keep my money so that I’m able to buy groceries,” he said.
However, Jack Mason, a third-year business student, said he isn’t bothered by the increase.
“As long as they’re using that money to keep businesses on campus afloat, that’s fine with me. I’d prefer that over CUSA collapsing because they don’t have enough funding,” he said.
“I also don’t want to pay higher prices at campus stores and I think this is a good way to avoid that.”
CUSA maintains the fee increase is necessary, posting to its Instagram that voting in its favour would ensure stable prices at CUSA businesses such as Rooster’s Coffeehouse and Mike’s Place, a continuation of its free printing services, more programming and long-term projects, as well as more student jobs.
Additionally, CUSA stated in a post that the fee has never been raised, only changing on account of inflation, in the last 75 years.
Catherine Gagnon, a second-year anthropology student, said she will also be voting against the levy increase.
“I’m a student who has to work two jobs for the summer and pull 11 hour shifts in the sun to make enough for tuition and gas money. I’ve had to calculate rent versus driving and make my decisions regarding school based on what I can afford,” she said.
Gagnon said she feels she is throwing her money away to CUSA due to not seeing “a clear benefit” from the fees.
CUSA posted that the money would go toward staffing for CUSA offices, service centres, student services and other areas that would help the association’s efficiency.
The association claims that if the referendum does not pass, CUSA will not be as “prominent in its planning for the next several years.”
Voting will take place until March 12 at 10:00 p.m. Undergraduate students can vote using a ballot sent to their student email accounts.
Featured graphic by Alisha Velji.
