"The students are having more faith in theU.C., [believing] that we're starting to work forthem," says Melissa Garza '94, a member of thecouncil's re-evaluation committee. "I think it'sunfair to ask 84 percent of the students tosubsidize those who withhold the money. We shouldwork to get all of the students paying the $20before we raise the term bill."
But most council officers say any perceivedconnection between the fee hike and the newlimitations on fee waivers is purely coincidental.
"It may appear as though we're trying tohoodwink people, but that's not necessarily thecase," Gregoire says.
And Liston says allowing students to recovertheir fee with just the stroke of a pen on theirterm-bills is unfair.
"Why should a student get to enjoy Yardfest andall the benefits the U.C. has provided for themfor free?" Liston asks.
But Anger says fairness has nothing to do withit. She suggests the council is simply afraid thatmore students will take back their money.
"[The more difficult process] doesn't speak ofincreased confidence in the council," she says.
"This kind of thing has been discussed foryears," Anger adds. "Whenever the council talkedabout making it harder for people [to waive thefee], it's because they're afraid people will bededucting it."
Anticipating such criticism, Gabay and Mann,two key supporters of the elimination of the checkbox option, say they might back a compromise. Theymight be willing to wait a year before enactingthe term-bill increase, they say.
But it's clear most of the council leadershipwants more money now.
"I would like to see us wait," Gabay says, "butwe're way under what other student governments getnow."
Council members will debate the issueSunday, but students themselves may end updeciding whether the term-bill fee will go up.
Most council members interviewed by The Crimsonsay they support the term-bill increase. And ifthe package passes this Sunday, the increase willbe taken up in the Faculty Council, perhaps asearly as April 12, Liston says.
Gabay speculates that the Faculty Council willput the issue to a student referendum beforemaking a decision.
"I think it's going to rest ultimately with thestudents," Gabay says. "And if they don't want it,I don't want it."
Gabay, however, says that when he presents thepros and cons of the issue, his Quincy Houseconstituents are inclined to support it.
Former council member Niko Canner '94 says healso wants to see a student referendum.
"It seems like it's the students who are payingthe extra $10 who should decide whether it goesthrough," says Canner, who co-chairs theConstitution Committee with Anger.
Echoing Anger, Canner advises patience forcouncil members anxious to impose a term-billincrease on a potentially unreceptive studentbody.
"Perhaps if the U.C. waited and could present amore convincing resume of successful big events,"Canner says, "the student body would be morewilling."