The 2024-25 school year marks a referendum year for Buffalo State University.
This means that Buffalo State undergraduate students will have a chance to vote for the now mandatory student activity fee to either remain or be abolished.
The student activity fee directly supports USG organizations such as The Record, events held on campus, leadership programs, and other essential resources, including the fitness center for undergraduate students, that help to enhance the experience students have at Buffalo State University.
If the student activity fee is abolished, then the campus’ USG-recognized organizations will not have assurance of access to any funding. USG-recognized organizations are funded by the student activity fee.
If the student activity fee is voted for, it will ensure that Buffalo State remains vibrant, inclusive, and full of opportunities for all of its students.
By maintaining this fee, we invest in a community that fosters connection, creativity, inclusion, and personal growth.
The United Students Government, otherwise known as USG, will be the ones who receive the money for the student activity fee, which they then distribute accordingly to different organizations, events and more.
When asked about the student activity fee’s impact, USG’s Tayllor Clark, who works in accounts, said “The current Mandatory Student Activity Fee supports The direct funding of over 30 student organizations on campus; this includes events, apparel, conferences, travel, and more. Further, it also supports major events like Homecoming, the Spring Carnival, the Whispering Pines Camp, and the annual Spring Fest performance.”
With this being said, she stresses the importance of the student activity fee as it will change a lot of things if it were to be abolished.
Obviously, organizations will vote yes, as they don’t want to lose access to funding via the student activity fee. However, the students in no organizations may choose no.
Overall, the choice is yours, but the choice is a lot more important than Buffalo State’s students may realize.
The election will take place on March 15, and will be located in the Campbell Student Union in front of the University Bookstore.
