By Jayme Fraser

Author's note: The same day the Montana Kaimin ran a story telling the student body about an effort to increase a fee without any student input, the school discovered a long-standing policy that mandates they do just that. This is the short article about the reversal.

Students will have the opportunity to approve a proposed increase to the athletic fee despite earlier statements from President Royce Engstrom that The University of Montana would take the decision to the Board of Regents directly.

Engstrom delivered a letter to student government president Williams Thursday afternoon asking the Associated Students of the University of Montana to approve the proposed $50 increase to the athletic fee.

"It has come to my attention that a Board of Regents policy does exist that requires either a vote of ASUM or a referendum regarding athletic fees," Engstrom wrote. "Board Policy 940.28 is attached. Item B indicates clearly that a fee will be approved only if the campus brings forward the results of a recent campus referendum or a vote of the student governing body."

The policy was created in 1993 along with the first athletic fees and revised in 1999. Vice President Jim Foley said no one at UM or with the Regents was aware of the policy when they made earlier statements that student consideration was not necessary.

"Quite literally, none of us knew about it," Foley said. "So it really was inadvertent."

Regents Chairman Clayton Christian said Engstrom asked the office of the Commissioner of Higher Education to clarify the proper procedure for bringing forward an athletic fee proposal after the Kaimin interviewed him about the proposal Tuesday and some student senators shared concerns with him at their Wednesday meeting. The OCHE confirmed Thursday morning that the athletic fee policy requires a student vote so Engstrom's office prepared the letter for Williams.

Christian said his interpretation of the policy says the final decision still lies with the Regents, regardless of the student vote.

"We really value student input," Christian said, "but I don't think it binds us to a decision either way."

For instance, Christian said the Regents did not initially approve a fee increase at Montana Tech to renovate their recreation center despite a student vote supporting the increase. The Regents ultimately approved the project after a compromise was reached and the size of the fee increase was lowered.

Engstrom is proposing to increase the student athletic fee $12.50 the next four semesters for a total increase of $50. The revenue would support a new women's softball program that UM must create to stay in compliance with Title IX gender equity. The current athletics budget simply cannot afford to add the program without additional revenue and the University must comply with Title IX to remain eligible for federal funding.