Student Government Election on Monday and Tuesday, April 11-12, includes a referendum vote seeking a student fee increase of $3.60 per semester.

A  referendum is required whenever requested fee increases exceed 2 percent. Majority approval is needed for separate proposed increases for Student Activities Fee and Intercollegiate Athletics Fee.

For full-time undergraduate students, total overall change in fees if both referendums are approved is $3.60. The proposed fee increases are significantly offset by a decrease in the student union fee (-3.8%, or $0.41/credit).

The University’s Athletics Fee (currently $4.00/credit; proposed increase is 5.25 percent, or $0.21/credit) is currently the lowest in the Minnstate system, despite having the strongest athletics program. Athletics provides free student tickets for all sports except hockey. With hockey, athletics does offer a certain amount of free hockey tickets.

The Student Activities Fee increase (currently $8.97/credit; proposed increase is 4.46 percent, or $0.40/credit; this brings the fee to $9.37/credit) is to cover increased staff costs, as well as increased stipends for students working with department-sponsored programs that support student life. There was also a significant increase to the Green Transportation Fee due to increased transportation/fuel costs. The GTF provides University students with free bus service in Mankato .

Referendum approval would prevent a significant dip into reserves, knowing that the Green Transportation fee and staffing costs will likely continue to increase but the cap may not move.

Approval also allows for additional time to advocate for raising the cap or moving the green transportation fee out of the SAF.

The 2022-23 race for Student Government President and Vice President is uncontested with Emma Zellmer and Idman Ibrahim seeking for respective president and vice president positions. The online election site will be open Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.