Students have the opportunity today to vote on the Talley-Atrium fee referendum.

Seize the chance to vote and consider its implications. A vote affirming the referendum will give University leaders conviction for their plan to spend millions of student fee dollars on the renovation, essentially reconstruction, of Talley Student Center and the Atrium. Carefully judge the $83 Talley fee increase for next year, but also reflect on the fact that today’s freshmen would pay $275 for Talley during their fourth year and as much as $290, or $0.80 per day, during their fifth year.

After the completion of the project, students would continue paying for Talley in the form of a bond. Future students would be paying that debt down for decades. Theoretically, current students who send their children to N.C. State 25 years from now would pay for the building a second time.

These are difficult economic times for families, the University and the nation as a whole. A $100 million project is a large commitment for students to make, especially considering the limited realizations many students will see while at the University.

Make this an issue you’re knowledgeable about and go vote at vote.ncsu.edu. Student turnout in most Student Government elections is, politely speaking, understated. This should not be, and cannot be the case for this referendum. Students must send administrators a strong message by taking a couple minutes out of their day to vote.

In the past, fee referendums have been ignored by the University — administrators have done as they pleased. By turning out in large numbers, students can put pressure on the University to follow the result of the referendum, even if it’s against administrators’ personal sentiments.

Talley is old and outdated, that’s a given. But is this the right time to rebuild it?

Ask yourself if this project is in the best interest of you and your fellow students and make your voice heard today.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 10:20 a.m. to remove unsubstantiated statements.