Students of Eleanor Roosevelt College will go to the polls this week to vote on a fee referendum that would increase their student tuition by $5 per quarter.

The increased funds would be used for ERC student programming, according to Student Council Chair David Goodwin, who sent an e-mail to all ERC students.

“”The money raised by this fee would come straight to ERC under the direct control of students,”” Goodwin said.

The referendum has the support of the ERC dean’s office.

“”We are supportive of it, but none of the funds will go to the dean’s office,”” said Patricia Scott, dean of student affairs at ERC. “”The intent is to develop programming and events that will be attractive to all students of ERC.””

One reason for the increase in funding is to make ERC’s events more competitive with those of other colleges that have more students and more money for events.

“”The funds that were allotted from [the A.S. Council] don’t allow us to put on the activities for ERC students that other colleges can, such as Muirstock, the Muir 40 and the Revelle Watermelon Drop,”” said Crystal Fecht, the programer for Student Council. “”Both Muir and Revelle have activity fees.””

ERC is the smallest college on the UCSD campus, and is therefore allotted the least amount of money by the A.S. Council, which allots funds based on enrollment. Fecht said that although this is a reasonable system, it leaves ERC short on funding for student activities.

“”Because it is a small college, we get pretty good turnouts, so we end up paying just as much as other colleges [for our events],”” Fecht said.

Scott also recognizes the need for ERC to raise funds to have events that are fun for the students.

“”Regardless of enrollment, you want to offer the same level of quality and programming,”” she said.

Last year, ERC launched ERCapaluau, which members of SCERC hope will one day rival Muirstock in turnout and tradition.

“”We want to be able to create a tradition to make ERC students proud to be ERC,”” Fecht said.

With the moving of the ERC campus to the north side of UCSD planned for fall 2003, housing for ERC students is going to be tight in the next couple of years. Few sophomores will be able to live on campus because the current ERC residence halls will house the sixth college next year.

“”It’s extremely important that we have funds to create unity, especially next year when we’re all going to be living in Pepper Canyon,”” said ERC senior Armin Khoddan.

ERC Senator Wendy Ho said ERC’s move will be taking much of the college’s spotlight and energy in the next year.

“”Our dean has told us that this might be the last opportunity to pass this fee referendum since we’re moving,”” she said.

The ERC administration is also supportive of the fee referendum’s passing, according to ERC senior Mike Rosenblat.

“”They want to see everybody have a good time,”” he said.

Indeed, the raise in fees will aid all ERC student organizations, including the ERC Student Affairs Office as well as all campus organizations that might look to ERC for funding, according to Fecht.

“”It’s going to benefit all the ERC student organizations, as well as the [other] student organizations on campus,”” Fecht said.

Scott addressed the concern that all ERC students would have to pay for the increase in funding, but students living offcampus traditionally do not participate in events as much as those who live on campus.

“”The council recognizes the need to do outreach for students who live off campus,”” she said.

The fee referendum requires that 15 percent of ERC’s student population vote in order for the results to be considered. This roughly calculates to 400 students.