Students question hidden 'class tax' in performing and visual arts departments

For the 2001-02 academic year, the University's tuition totaled $26,101. Students that take certain classes in the visual arts and theater and dance programs, however, may pay more in course fees without ever realizing it.

The fees apply to the majority of courses in the two programs. However, many students either never notice the fee or forget about it before the class starts.

"I really don't remember paying any course fees," said Jacob Weiss '03, who was billed $20 for THR 331: The Comic Journey.

According to program representatives, the fees pay for supplies used in the courses. In visual arts, the fees go toward art supplies or photography lab fees. For theater and dance, the fees pay for photocopies and set materials.

But other departments offer classes with similar costs without charging course fees. In addition, some students said they had received little for the money.

Though the course description said a $30 fee would cover costs for film, processing, diskettes and matboard, Daniel Ho '04, who took VIS 315: Computer Graphics, said he had not used any of those supplies from the University.

"I never even got to [print]," Ho said. "We were all supposed to be able to print out a few sheets, but for some reason, somebody told us that we couldn't do it."

Theater program director Michael Cadden acknowledged that not all students received the full benefit of their course fee.

"In some instances, a student might be getting $40-$50 worth of Xeroxing or $5 but will be paying the same set fee," he said. "It's not like academic courses where the syllabus moves in a stately manner."

The fees were unavoidable given the program's budget and the services it provides, said Linda Kaufman, program manager for the two programs.

"Students have access to studios 24 hours a day. They can use anything and everything they want in the studios," she said. "I wish we didn't have to [charge course fees], but we don't have the budget."

Of the 14 spring classes in the visual arts program, 11 charged $20 or $30 fees. The theater and dance program charged fees of $10 or $20 for nine out of 11 classes.

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After taking two visual arts courses, Ho had no idea that he had paid a total of $60 in fees. Only after re-examining his University bill did he notice the charges.

Part of the confusion arises from the programs' billing procedures.

A program representative said the programs compile lists of enrolled students and send them to the University, which charges the fees directly to student accounts.

However, this process often occurs without the students knowledge. None of the students interviewed remembered signing any forms to authorize payment.

Nor did any of the students remember receiving information about the fees in class.

"Once I got in the class there was never any talk about [course fees]" said Stacey Kim '03, who was unaware that she had paid a $20 course fee for THR 330: Storytelling.

Cadden said the decision to charge students through University accounts was made because many students did not pay the fees.

"[Payment] was done right in the class [and] basically many students didn't pay it," he said. "So that's when we went to this other accounting system."

Kaufman explained that the fees took the place of buying textbooks or Pequod packets for academic courses.

"We put a ton per student into each class," she said. "It's in lieu of the other kinds of things that you need in an academic class."

Many students said that they had received more than their money's worth in materials. "In my directing class, [the professor] handed out huge articles," said David Brundige '04.

However, Weiss said his professor had only made about 50 photocopies for each student. He said he also purchased his own textbooks for the course.

"I really don't see how it was $20 per student," he said.

In addition, chemistry classes, which also offer extra supplies such as chemicals, glassware and other supplies do not charge these fees.

"[Students] don't have any out-of-pocket expenses themselves," said Kirsten Erwin, undergraduate administrator for the chemistry department. "Everything is covered one way or the other by funding the department has."

This semester the creative writing program stopped charging photocopying fees because students began sharing their work via e-mail.Kaufman said the fees could not be removed for theater and dance and visual arts because the need for photocopies and materials has not decreased.