The Reitz Union is a place where students can gather together, but discussions of a proposed student fee to fund its renovation, repairs and expansion are dividing students and Student Government senators.
The proposed fee would include a $20 flat fee for each student in addition to a $3 fee per credit hour, according to Student Body President Jordan Johnson. He said the estimated cost of the renovation and expansion would be about $70 to $80 million.
About $56 million would come from student fees, while the remainder would be paid through Capital Improvement Trust Funds and alumni donations.
Out of the $56 million from student fees, about $42.5 million would help fund Reitz Union repairs while the remainder would fund the expansion, Johnson said.
Some suggestions for the renovation and expansion include making the building Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified, expanding student organization space and adding a 1,500-seat theater for dances and events, according to a presentation by Johnson.
Johnson said other state schools, including the University of South Florida and Florida State University, have used a similar student fee to fund their student unions.
Eddie Daniels, the executive director of the Reitz Union, said repairs are necessary regardless of how they are funded.
He said the Reitz Union requires $42.5 million over the next 15 years for repairs involving air handling units, plumbing and electrical systems.
Daniels said architects met with students, organizations, faculty and staff Nov. 2 through Nov. 5 to take suggestions about what they would like to see added to the union, but design drawings based on these needs will not be available until February.
He said some suggestions included adding more student organization office space, more performing space and more meeting rooms. Daniels said UF has outgrown the union.
“So, my hope is we’ll be able to somehow get a facility that will better meet the needs of our current student population,” Daniels said.
Senators passed a resolution supporting the Reitz Union expansion and student fee at Tuesday night’s Senate meeting.
But some senators and graduate students at the meeting said students should have a chance to vote on the student fee in the spring SG elections.
Orange and Blue Party Sen. Jon Ossip said he was not against the fee or the expansion but wanted to make sure the majority of students approved of the ideas.
“I would support whatever the students choose on the ballot,” Ossip said.
But according to Johnson, having students vote on the fee would delay its journey to the Florida legislature and to Gov. Charlie Crist, who would ultimately decide whether it would be put into effect. If it were approved, Johnson said UF would then lobby for capital improvement trust funds and private donations as well.
He said about 1,500 students have signed a petition supporting the expansion. In addition, about 3,600 students were surveyed, and Johnson said he plans to have a town hall forum in early December to continue discussions with students.
During discussions of the fee at Tuesday’s Senate meeting, graduate students expressed concern that the fee would cut into their already low salaries.
Emily McCann, a graduate assistant in the English department and a member of Graduate Assistants United at UF, said student fees already represent 9 percent to 10 percent of her salary.
She said she wishes she had been provided with more information about the fee and about alternative sources of funding.
“Technically, we would have found out about it,” McCann said. “But it seems the lack of transparency, even if nothing was meant by it, even if it was inadvertent, was startling.”
Progress Party President Dave Schneider said he supported the graduate students’ point of view, adding that they represent one of the largest reasons why UF is so successful.
Schneider said the resolution should make it clear when the fee would start and end, so it would not become a permanent burden on students.
Johnson said he hopes to discuss the renovation and expansion with graduate students.
“We want to open conversations with them and we want to include everyone in this conversation,” Johnson said.
