By Christina Smith

The Student Government Association’s (SGA) legislation to increase the Student Activities fee was approved by President Stuart Rabinowitz this January. The proposal, which was presented in early December, passed unanimously before members of the Senate. Approval from President Rabinowitz has allowed SGA to increase the fee by $10 at the start of the 2009/2010 academic year, and another $8 at the start of the 2010/2011 academic year, totalling an $18 dollar increase, which was initially proposed, by the 2012 academic year.

“We explained what clubs and activities would benefit from the increase,” said SGA Comptroller Kate Legnetti. “He never questioned the need for the increase or said we were asking for too much.”

Legnetti said that President Rabinowitz told her, along with SGA Fundraising Chair Brian Marquis and SGA Vice President Jared Berry, that they would definitely get the money, but it would have to be over a period of two years because of the economic situation.

According to Legnetti, the first increase of $10 will allow for an extra $80,000 for clubs, and the second increase of $8 will put the Activities Fund over $1 million.

Following approval from President Rabinowitz, the proposal will move to the Board of Trustees for a final approval.