By IVAN SNYDER
For the third time in five years, undergraduates will vote on a proposal to raise the student activities fee.
The Duke Student Government legislature passed a resolution Wednesday night that will put the $5 increase to a vote on a special ballot Dec. 6.
The fee, which is deducted annually from every undergraduate bursar's account, would increase from $59.38 to $64.38 if students approve the referendum. Two similar proposals were voted down by undergraduates since the last increase in 1990.
DSG officials argue the increase is necessary due to the influx of new student organizations, a desire for expanded programming and special events, and inflation since the last increase.
"The majority of this fee increase goes to bringing this campus together," said Trinity senior John Tolsma, DSG president. "I see this fee increase as a way to foster greater interaction between faculty and students."
To prevent from having to increase the fee again in the near future, the legislature also resolved Wednesday to develop a plan to "control costs and increase efficiency" in the student organizations' budgets, which are determined each year by DSG.
While North Campus representative and Trinity freshman Blair Greber-Raines criticized the latter resolution, dubbing it "feel-good" legislation, the resolution's author defended the reasons behind the legislation.
"This says to the students that the increase will not set a precedent," said Trinity sophomore Randy Fink, an East Campus representative. "This is a promise to the student body for fiscal reform after a fee increase."
The legislature also grappled with the California table grape boycott. DSG passed legislation charging the Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee with conducting research and making suggestions to administrators concerning the boycott.
The legislature further recommended that groups on both sides of the ban present their own research to DUSDAC as well as to the administration.
"The administration should do their own research, listen to student research and make a decision like they originally said they would," said DSG legislator and Trinity freshman Rohit Khanna, who authored the resolution.
Dining services has started to research the treatment of farmworkers and investigated possible alternatives to California table grapes, if necessary, said Trinity junior Roberto Lopez, co-coordinator of Mi Gente, who attended the meeting.
The legislature also dealt with University attempts to increase the recruitment of black faculty. It unanimously passed a resolution asking every department to submit a progress report updating recruitment efforts.
The University's Academic Council passed a resolution in 1988 calling for each of University's 56 hiring units to add at least one black scholar to their faculty or document why they could not. The initiative failed, resulting in a 1993 resolution calling on the University to double the amount of black faculty over the next decade.
"It is imperative that we insist on a diverse and well-rounded education that all can benefit from. This requires professors with backgrounds and experiences common to all students," said Engineering sophomore and Central Campus representative Kania Kennedy in her resolution.
"By demanding that departments be accountable for their black faculty recruitment, we are showing our desire for a thorough education," Kennedy wrote.
IN OTHER BUSINESS: Tom D'Armi, director of games, operations and facilities, gave the legislature a motivational address about upcoming homecoming festivities.
D'Armi said increased funding had allowed him to expand the festivities this year. "I'll tell you one damn thing. We're gonna have two beer trucks," he said.
The legislature also approved a Duke chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and an Art History Majors' union.
At the next DSG meeting on Nov. 30, President Nan Keohane will address the legislature about residential housing.
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