Twenty-two members of the University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC) sent a letter to administrators Wednesday expressing concerns with new proposals that would increase the amount of administrative control over the $2 million Student Activity Fee.

University Park students currently pay an activity fee of $52 a semester, 63 percent of which is allocated directly to UPAC, which consists of

25 appointed student members and 10 elected student members. UPAC then decides how much money to give certain student organizations. The remainder of the activity fee money funds the mortgage on the HUB-Robeson Center and the construction of a new Health Services building.

In the letter, the students raised concerns about the size, composition and selection of a proposed Fee Allocation Board (FAB) that would oversee the portion of the student activity fee that UPAC currently allocates. The board would split the money between UPAC, "big allocations" like the Distinguished Speaker Series, and a proposed Student Programming Association (SPA).

FAB would be significantly smaller than UPAC and would heighten administrative control over the student activity fee, according to the letter.

The students wrote that they are concerned about why it is necessary for another board with administrative input to oversee UPAC, a 10-year-old organization.

Triponey said FAB would help ensure that the potential impact of the activity fee is maximized.

"As university dollars, my staff and I have some fiscal responsibility [for the fee]," she said.

Shaira Morales, the co-chairwoman of the work group designing FAB, said along with eight students, four faculty members would be on the board to help provide a wider variety of viewpoints.

"This isn't an us vs. them kind of thing," she said.

Morales said FAB was kept small so that it would not become a "super UPAC." She said while FAB members do not necessarily represent the views of all students, neither do UPAC's 35 members.

The students also raised concerns with SPA, which would organize its own events and help student organizations plan and market events. Currently, UPAC only allocates money to programs proposed by student organizations. It has no authority to program on its own.

The students wrote they were "unsure" that it was necessary for the programming board to be able to create its own programs, because the board's ideal function was to help support existing student organizations.

However, Wright said programs that SPA creates would help to fill in "holes" that current programming has not addressed. He said, for example, that the board might choose to hold a rock concert if student organizations were only organizing hip-hop concerts.

Judy Albin, senior associate director of unions and student activities and UPAC adviser, said four open forums were held this semester at which UPAC members could have raised their concerns. Albin said all of the forums were sparsely attended.

"I think some of their concerns are valid, but I think some of those concerns could have been relieved had they been to some of those forums," she said.

John Creek, a UPAC member who signed the letter, said he attended one of the original forums but did not think that his concerns had been addressed. Other UPAC members said they also attended.

Juan Suarez, a UPAC member who signed the letter to administrators, said he asked for signatures at the UPAC meeting on Tuesday night. He said there were about 30 people at the meeting and some refused to sign.

Suarez said members of the programming and fee board workgroups gave a presentation at a UPAC meeting two weeks ago. He said many UPAC members were concerned about the issues that were raised during the presentation.

Greg Heleniak, next year's UPAC chairman and a signer of the letter, said the UPAC members were signing the letter only as concerned students. He said the letter should not be considered as an official statement from UPAC.

Morales said she will bring the suggestions of the UPAC members when the fee work group presents its recommendations to Triponey at the end of next week.

In an e-mail message, Morales wrote, "Hopefully these concerned students will participate ACTIVELY next year in molding the FAB and SPA systems to what they believe will best address the students."

Suarez said he hopes the administration stops the plan to implement the board next year and holds more discussions with students and with UPAC specifically. He said there are no plans yet to take other actions if their concerns are not addressed.

"We hope that the students and the administrators heed this warning," he said.