The increase in the student activity fee gained more support when it came before the Washburn Student Government Association student senate Wednesday, Oct. 25.

The senate unanimously decided to support the $12 increase to the student activity fee. This brings the issue one step closer to the Board of Regents who will make the final decision. The student activity fee issue has been in a special WSGA committee, which researched how other universities in Kansas used their fee, major organizations that use the fee and how those organizations would use an increase in the fee. The committee unanimously supported the increase before it went for consideration by the WSGA student senate.

Josh Shald, WSGA president, said that the discussion was mostly positive. The senate discussed how the increased revenue would be used and how WSGA would set up new accounts.

“WSGA will have to reconsider their funding policies,” said Shald. “We are going to have to consider how to invest it if we want to use it for the long-term.”

Shald also said the next step would be meetings with the Board of Regents. He has been meeting with university budget administrators to better understand what effects this is going to have and the impact of enrollment trends on the issue.

The senate also passed legislation that would allow for free printing for students in Mabee Library. The legislation passed allowed for the purchase of new kiosks and software that will read iCards and keep account on student use of the printing. Shald said that WSGA is still going to have to consider the restrictions, how many pages each student can print per week or per semester. He said that next semester would probably be a pilot program and WSGA can adjust accordingly.

The senate also agreed to fund the USAToday Readership Program. This program will provide students with three publications, USAToday, the Topeka Capital-Journal and an additional publication to be decided later.

“I think [this program] will have huge benefits,” said Shald. “First, students can get their news more easily. Most college students, traditional or non-traditional, can’t afford to have a subscription to major newspapers. Second, this will have academic benefits. Students can bring news into the classroom and professors can integrate news into the curriculum.”