The De Anza Student Body Senate is debating a proposal for a $2 student fee increase. The fee increase, if passed, will be used to fund new or special programs at De Anza College.

“The two dollar increase is a way to fund special projects for [De Anza organizations like] Eco Pass and The Green Initiative Fund and give students more opportunities to help the campus,” said vice president of Administration Wayne Spalding.

The Eco Pass system will give DeAnza students free access to public transportation including Valley Transportation Authority buses and light rail trains. The Green Inititiative Fund serves to fund on-campus projects that will help keep De Anza environmentally sustainable. TGIF teaches students how the college can reduce its carbon footprint and allows student participation in the project funding paid jobs.

The proposed $2 fee increase has the potential to generate a fair amount of revenue at a low cost to students.

“For every $1 raised, we earn about a $75,000,” Spalding said. “These are rough estimates but a $2 increase would raise about $150,000.”

Proponents for the fee increase believe that the proposal will help to generate revenue for essential programs. Opponents of the plan argue that the increase in DASB card fees will cause many students, who may already find the fees too expensive, to stop paying them altogether.

“The necessity of the fee depends on what it is used for. If it is used to pay for programs like the Eco Passes on campus, then, yes, it is necessary. If it is used to pay for existing on-campus programs, then, no, it would not be necessary,” said vice chair of Administration Omar Ali.

A lawsuit in the California State University system forbidding Cal State University from charging self-support fees for regular credit bearing classes during winter and summer quarters. The University, like De Anza College, faces a large defecit, making it difficult to continue providing summer and winter classes without self-support fees.