Some regents want vote on student fees reconsidered

Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 | 9:08 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- UNLV won approval last week to raise student fees to finance the expansion of the Moyer Student Union and to construct a recreation center -- but some officials say that decision could be overturned.

Regent Steve Sisolak of Las Vegas served notice he will ask for a reconsideration of the vote at the October meeting of the Board of Regents. Regent Mark Alden, also of Las Vegas, predicted that the approval would be reversed.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is expected to phase in student fees over a four-year span and eventually collect $346 a year from each student to pay off $89 million in 30-year bonds for the projects.

Students who carry three credits or less would not pay the new fee, but they would have to pay a fee if they wanted to use the recreation center when it is completed. Faculty would be charged 125 percent of the student fee to use the center.

Rebecca Mills, vice president of student life at UNLV, said the expansion of the Moyer Student Union to 160,000 square feet would cost $37.5 million and that it would open in 2006. The 165,000-square-foot recreation center would cost $49.9 million and would be ready by 2007.

Representatives of student government testified in support of the projects and said the students backed the plans.

But Regent Linda Howard of Las Vegas said a university survey showed that only a little over half supported the plans.

"What about the other half?" Howard said.

She said she was worried about the increased cost to students who were struggling financially.

Some of the regents supported delaying the vote to allow students in Las Vegas who might oppose the construction plans to appear at the October meeting in Las Vegas.

Sisolak argued that only student government representatives were able to attend the Reno meeting; those who opposed the project did not have the money to fly to Reno, he said.

In other action, the regents: