Survey says:

Students express few complaints, concerns with activity fee programs

Olivia Ireland wants to know why she should care about paying a $25 student activity fee.

All full-time University students automatically pay $25 every semester to the student activity fund, which finances HUB Late Night activities, the Distinguished Speaker Series, free movies, concerts and athletic tournaments. But even students who said they never attended such University sponsored events said they did not care about paying the additional money.

"It's my option (not to go)," said Ireland (junior-communication disorders). "I think it's fine that we pay. We pay enough already, what's $25?"

Ireland said she knew about the fee but never attended the activities it sponsored. She is not unlike many University students, according to a recent Penn State Pulse Survey. The average student attended 1.6 fee-supported programs or events last semester, according to the 622 students surveyed.

"We get information that people are interested in certain topics yet they aren't coming when those events are offered and the question is why?," said Betty Moore, a senior research analyst for student affairs research and assessment.

Ireland said because she lived off campus, neither she nor her friends thought to return after classes. The survey did find that students living off-campus tended to participate less in University activities and events.

Participating in University-run extracurricular activities is definitely not an option for Elvis Matlick. Matlick, (junior-chemical engineering) said his major keeps him studying both Friday and Saturday nights, he said. But like Ireland, Matlick said he didn't mind paying for activities he would never use.

"I don't care because it's a good (overall) value for my money," Matlick said.

Hopefully, the University will decide to continue hosting speakers like Ian Wilmut, who spoke two weeks ago on cloning technology, Tony Ruddy (senior-management) said.

Ruddy falls in line with the 67 percent of students who want to hear distinguished speakers. Ruddy said he attended three speeches last semester.