Serving as the student voice for issues within the CSU system, the California State Student Association met in January to discuss action regarding the systemwide student government fee that will replace the Associated Students Inc. dues.

The CSU will use waivers that students could turn in to have the fee removed for the term. The waiver would make the systemwide fee voluntary.

The 18-5 vote was in favor of the systemwide student government fee increase, but did not come without concerns from board members.

“The waiver will be administered by the chancellor’s office,” said Sacramento State CSSA Representative Anthony Gibson. “Any other administrative costs will be paid for by the CSSA.”

CSSA President Sarah Couch said the proposed fee would be $2 twice a year, but is not official yet.

“(The fee) will allow us to stabilize the budget, be autonomous and create an opportunity to ensure the CSSA stays around for student representation for advocacy in Sacramento as well as (Washington) D.C.” Couch said.

The proposal brought forward has two plans with it: one was the legislative route and the other process is with the Board of Trustees.

The legislative route includes sponsorship and once it passes, it is up to Gov. Jerry Brown to approve. The second plan includes the Board of Trustees, which could legally enforce the fees. Both proposals were brought forward from the Board of Directors with a statement of intent to implement and includes possible options on allocating funds.

Now that the proposal was agreed upon within the CSSA, the next process is taking it to the Board of Trustees, but if it is not approved, then the CSSA will ask the legislature. Enforcement could start as early as fall 2014.

“There are no definite plans or ideas (with the fee) yet,” Couch said. “The Board of Trustees will review the new budget in allocating the funds.”

Couch said some of the benefits of the proposal include broadened participation in the university governance by all CSU students, ensuring CSU students have permanent and stable representation within the university on both state and federal levels and ensuring student participation with state and federal policymakers.

One of the recent focuses during the CSSA meeting was publishing the white paper, a 12-page opinion document that addresses the students’ concerns about online education and details what the students want from the experience.

Gibson said no other student association has put out an official document as the CSSA has.

“Even though we can’t solve every problem today, we can do the best we can and do something to greatly benefit the students from here on out.” Gibson said. “If we don’t approve these proposals there’s a very good chance we won’t see a CSSA in the near future.”