Minnesota State University, Mankato Students Say ‘No’ to Higher Fees

In what could be a stinging comment on the high cost of education at Minnesota’s public universities, students at Minnesota State University, Mankato strongly rejected two options for expanding student-funded recreational facilities on campus. The vote was 1,692 votes against two competing options out of 3,108 votes cast, including 98 abstentions. The “no” vote amounted to 54 percent. The university has a full-time enrollment of just under 14,000 students.

The more lavish of the two proposals, which would have added $130 in student fees annually, received 831 votes or 27 percent of the vote. A less expensive option calling for an $80 annual fee increase received 487 votes or 16 percent.

more inside“Ask me to hand over the same amount for new facilities in the classroom, or to expand a department in order to allow more students to graduate in four years, or to fund student organizations? Consider it done,” wrote MSU Reporter assistant news editor Rachel Heiderscheidt in a commentary. “But don’t ask me to pay a cent for even more physical fitness or recreation facilities.”

Reporter editor Andrew Miller said no one thought the plan would pass but that he was encouraged by the high turnout and surprised that the vote was closer than most predicted. “Students are tired of tuition increases, high textbook prices. Rents are going up. Gas is going up,” he said. A lot of today’s students can’t see shelling out $80 or $130 a year more for facilities that would not be completed for another two or three years. In other words, they were being asked to pay for something they would never get to use.

He noted that some of the requested facilities were necessary. For example, MSU Mankato doesn’t even have a track, and the university has to hold its outdoor track meets at a local high school.

The university administration is currently pushing a proposal to increase enrollment to 18,000 full-time students. How much yesterday’s student vote reflects on those plans is unknown.