A proposed $1,000 fee for Barrett Honors College students dominated conversation during a tuition forum with ASU President Michael Crow on Monday.
About 100 students, the majority of whom were honors students, attended the open forum at the Memorial Union stage. They spent much of the first hour discussing the proposed fee, which could face a vote in April.
Tuition will be set during the March meeting of the Arizona Board of Regents.
Honors student and museum studies freshman Kristen Engfors said the fee took her by surprise, and she didn't feel the forum provided any real answers.
"I feel rather than present real figures, they provided us with facts about other universities," she said.
Crow compared ASU to other universities several times during the forum, touching on tuition prices, federal funding and demographics at schools around the nation.
Engfors said the forum felt to her like a guilt trip about the University's financial woes.
Students asked what sort of improvements the fee would bring to the honors college and why it was necessary.
Crow and Vice President Milton Glick said the fee should bring with it increased course offerings, a more diversified staff and outside evaluation teams to help with the honors thesis.
They said increased funds were essential for the increased services.
"The costs [of the proposed changes] are way beyond anything that can be justified in the overall context of the University," Crow said, referring to the University's reluctance to take money from other areas to improve the honors college.
Discussion about the proposed fee was cut off by Undergraduate Student Government President Sophie O'Keefe-Zelman, who asked that questions about the honors college be reserved for the end so other questions could be raised.
Many of the honors students in attendance left the forum after the announcement.
Marketing junior Debbie Santucci said the students' departure and the way they had used the tuition forum time was disrespectful to other students.
"I was personally offended by the honors students," said Santucci, a USG senator for the W.P. Carey School of Business. "They're not respecting their peers at ASU. I want to make sure my constituents, the business students, are getting what they deserve."
Once the conversation had shifted from the honors fee, the focus turned to how students could ready themselves for the future.
Economics junior Kent Walter asked what students could expect in terms of future raises. Crow said moderate raises over the coming years would likely follow, but they would become increasingly smaller.
Kent said he appreciated the opportunity to ask the president questions but thought many of the answers were somewhat vague.
"I think these forums are very helpful, not just for the students but for the administration," he said.
Crow said he wished a larger sample of students had attended.
"I wish that there was a broader representation of the student body, more diversified," he said. "They can put voice to their investment."
Reach the reporter at rkost@asu.edu.
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