On Sunday, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Gail Hurley told The Daily Collegian she didn't know the future of up to $8 million -- money that could come from students' pockets.

Hurley was referring to the future of the proposed facilities fee, an expansion of the $68-per semester student activities fee. The projected fee will be a yearly $200 incurred on students

that would be used to pay for more recreational space, such as a connector between the White Building and the HUB-Robeson Center.The decision of whether or not to recommend the fee to the Board of Trustees was tabled on Friday. However, the board will meet on May 16 and, pending a recommendation from Hurley, could enact the fee.

The stalemate is thanks in large part to one person -- University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) President Gavin Keirans, who threw UPUA's weight behind something for students, pitting the student government against the administration.

While Keirans and Hurley should be commended for their open and frank dialogue, the discussion of this fee has clearly just begun.

UPUA should stay its course and finish what it started. If the administration is serious about this decision -- and listening to the students whose wallets could be a little thinner -- it should not rush this decision.

While May 16 is about a month away, a project this large should not be sped up to meet a deadline if there are unanswered questions and hesitations. If UPUA is not totally on board with the plan, then the administration needs to step back and reevaluate the proposed fee.

Cooperation is definitely possible between the folks at Old Main and the students. A productive

compromise will come about only when UPUA and the administration listen to one another. While we see both sides of the argument, this dispute will be best resolved if Keirans, Hurley and the other parties involved respect each others' views on this fee.

As it stands now, the plan Hurley brought to the table is not acceptable. Naturally students want more recreation space, but do they really know how much it will cost them? UPUA is justified in asking for more answers. However, if UPUA receives the answers, its members -- yes, you, Gavin -- must be willing to compromise and re-examine the fee.

One thing is for sure, however: The facilities fee dilemma is far from over.