Spring Break
Admissions fee policy successful for clubs
by Miranda Neubauer
Senior Writer
News | 11/25/08
Posted online at 4:37 AM EST on 11/25/08
The Union Treasury and club leaders have expressed satisfaction with the newly instated events admission price policy this semester, allowing clubs to charge a nominal admission fee, which followed last semester's policy requiring all Finance Board-funded events to offer free admission to Brandeis students.
Last January, immediate past Union Treasurer Choon Woo Ha '08 informed club leaders that the trial policy was formed because of concerns over the amount of money undergraduates pay for events on campus. Students are required to pay a Student Activities Fee with their tuition each semester from which the Finance Board draws its funds. The SAF is equal to one percent of tuition. The Union Treasury's office was concerned that students were paying twice for SAF-financed events.
After surveying students and reviewing the policy, the Free Admissions Advisory Committee composed of Treasury members and club leaders issued a recommendation at the end of last semester for a fall 2008 policy. According to that recommendation, which the F-Board is following this semester, events that are fully funded by the F-Board can charge a maximum of $3 in entrance fees. If a club plans to donate all the proceeds from an event to charity, the club can charge an admissions fee of a maximum of $5.
According to a survey undertaken by the committee last semester, 40.8 percent of students answered that they attended more events due to the Free Admissions Policy. Students answered that they would pay a maximum of $5 to $6 for theater events, $3 to $4 for party events, and $3 to $4 for cultural events.
Union Treasurer Max Wallach '09 said this semester's policy has been successful. "I think clubs have generally gotten the idea that although they can charge ticket prices now, they should keep it to a very minimum of what they need to put on the show and that they shouldn't really be making a fundraising profit off of it. That's not really the purpose," he said.
Last January, immediate past Union Treasurer Choon Woo Ha '08 informed club leaders that the trial policy was formed because of concerns over the amount of money undergraduates pay for events on campus. Students are required to pay a Student Activities Fee with their tuition each semester from which the Finance Board draws its funds. The SAF is equal to one percent of tuition. The Union Treasury's office was concerned that students were paying twice for SAF-financed events.
After surveying students and reviewing the policy, the Free Admissions Advisory Committee composed of Treasury members and club leaders issued a recommendation at the end of last semester for a fall 2008 policy. According to that recommendation, which the F-Board is following this semester, events that are fully funded by the F-Board can charge a maximum of $3 in entrance fees. If a club plans to donate all the proceeds from an event to charity, the club can charge an admissions fee of a maximum of $5.
According to a survey undertaken by the committee last semester, 40.8 percent of students answered that they attended more events due to the Free Admissions Policy. Students answered that they would pay a maximum of $5 to $6 for theater events, $3 to $4 for party events, and $3 to $4 for cultural events.
Union Treasurer Max Wallach '09 said this semester's policy has been successful. "I think clubs have generally gotten the idea that although they can charge ticket prices now, they should keep it to a very minimum of what they need to put on the show and that they shouldn't really be making a fundraising profit off of it. That's not really the purpose," he said.
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