In a record turnout for voting referendums, students voted down all three proposed referendum fee increases Wednesday and Thursday.
Out of 6,116 voters, 69 percent voted to not increase the Recreation Sports fee referendum; 79 percent voted no for the Student Service fee referendum; and 50 percent said no to the computer access fee referendum.
The Recreation Sports fee referendum would have increased Rec Sports fees from $78 to $88 to cover the cost of operation departmental programs and facilities as well as expand the weight room.
The fee referendum would have raised the Student Service fee $0.71 to a total of $12.57 per credit hour per student for the first 12 credit hours each semester.
The computer access fee referendum would have raised computer access/instructional technology fees either $1.25 or $3.25 per credit hour. The money would have been used to expand bandwith and wireless network access at different campus locations.
Erin Eckhart, the election commissioner, said the voting process was very smooth.
“We were very happy with the turnout,” she said.
Even though the votes were counted by the same system that calculated the results of the freshman class president elections, a new program was written specifically for this election to ensure accuracy, Eckhart said.
Thomas Pack, a junior sports management major, was disappointed when he heard the results of the voting.
“I think the benefits of increasing fees outweigh the costs,” he said.
In 1987, students voted to build the Student Recreational Center at a higher cost than $10 per student.
Other students, such as senior psychology major Karlen Moore, said that students are already on fixed budgets, and raising fees to attend Texas A&M would place a financial burden on many students.
“I don’t agree with raising fees unless A&M is considering offering additional financial aid and services (to those who need it),” Moore said.
Moore said the only way students on financial aid can receive more money from A&M is if their expected family contribution decreases.