Year after year, students are faced with increases in the fees that they pay to the University. Every fall, Chancellor James Oblinger discharges the task of deciding which fees will see an increase, decrease or remain at their present levels. That time of the year is now.

In the past, students have had only four representatives on the Fee Review Committee: one graduate and three undergraduate students to voice their opinion on behalf of the remaining 34,000 students.

This year, while there are still only four student members on the committee, students have the chance to individually voice their opinion on each fee-funded unit that is requesting an increase for the first time in history.

Thanks to Student Government, through the lead of Student Senate President Greg Doucette, SG has taken steps to allow students to vote on this year’s fee package this Monday and Tuesday.

Fee Review Committee members have said the student vote will play a role in their final vote on Thursday. However, the student body turn out during the vote is crucial to the impact it will have on committee members. If students fail to turnout in large numbers the result could mean the vote’s impact will not be significant. Conversely, if large numbers turn out, the committee will give more credence to the vote.

Students complain they are not involved in the decision-making processes at this University. This referendum is an opportunity for students to be involved. If students take this chance seriously, University leadership might make it more a part of the process in the future. There is only one chance to make a first impression, and this is it when it comes to a student vote on fees.

Students need to have their voices heard on the important issues of fees and the committee needs to hear the voices of more than four students. It’s important for students to let their voices be heard and vote in this historic referendum. If students don’t show up and log on to vote.ncsu.edu to let their position be known, then the Fee Review Committee will likely not take students seriously on fees, since they don’t care enough to vote.

So, students take a chance today and log on to vote.ncsu.edu and vote. You never know what impact it will make unless you do it.