Money Money Money Money....MONEY

So...trying to figure out our financial situation, it's best to start basic, and work up from there. Though the Frostburg website has all this listed on it, I thought I would start here, and post it all in one place for you to see.
Here we go.

Tuition - full time (12 credit or more)		1st Semester	2nd Semester	Total
Maryland Residents		$2652	$2652	$5304
Out-of-state Residents		$7598	$7598	$15196
Contiguous County Residents*		$5678	$5678	$11356

Mandatory Fees
Technology Fee		$75	$75	$150
Activities Fee		$83	$83	$166
Athletic Fee		$330	$330	$660
Auxiliary Facilities Fee		$270	$270	$540
Student Union Operating Fee		$137	$137	$274
Transportation Fee		$17	$17	$34
Total Fees		$912	$912	$1824
Total Tuition & Fees
Maryland Residents		$3564	$3564	$7128
Out-of-state Residents		$8510	$8510	$17020
Contiguous County* Residents		$6590	$6590	$13180

Room Charges
Frederick, Westminster	double	$1832	$1832	$3664
All other halls	double/triple	$1790	$1790	$3580
	small single	$2390	$2390	$4780
	large single	$2592	$2592	$5184
Board Charges
Gold Plan with $200 bonus dollars		$1992	$1992	$3984
Silver 19 -19 meals w/$100 bonus dollars		$1852	$1852	$3704
Super 15 Meal Plan w/$300 bonus dollars		$2125	$2125	$4250
14-meal w/$100 bonus dollars		$1778	$1778	$3556
12-meal w/$250 bonus dollars		$1846	$1846	$3692
10-meal w/$75 bonus dollars		$1552	$1552	$3104

As you can see, it may not be that bad how much money we pay. But of course we pay, because we're not on a free higher education system in this country...yet.

I just want to point out a few things though. For instance, if you look at the meal plan, I believe the 14 meal w/$100 bonus tends to be the more popular, more regular choice. That's $1778 a semester. Not bad, I would propose.

The cafe aside, considering (at least when I lived on campus) it's more of a buffet style, why do meal plans used at Lane Center and SubZero only cover between 5.95 and 6.90? And to put a point on that, why are mozarella sticks at SubZero 4.00 alone? Sure, you can hit under the meal plan every time. If you don't want to eat anything besides chicken and curly fries.

So here's what I plan on doing this semester. I want to talk to a few people, Gibralter included, but certainly not limited. I'd like to speak with Doug Baer at Residence Life. I'd like to speak with the food director, Lisa Rodgers.

Right now, we have to pay for school. Just wanna make sure that IS where our money is going.

*All Sources are from Frostburg State University website.

Finding Our Money

Why hello there. I'm Kyle Raios. You may remember the old Troy Mcclure "Simpsons" reference I'm trying to make. But I digress.

This semester, I'm going to take a look into our fees, tuition, and room & board costs.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Ah crap, another guy b******* about his money. Just get over it already." Well I'm not that guy, and I'm not going to be. What I will be doing is an investigation into how much we're paying, and where that money is going.

I'm a socialist guys. Take my money, and use it to ensure everyone gets equality.

We renovate the Lane Center, and go to knock down and rebuild Tawes Hall. Why did we start with Lane, how much did it cost, and where did we get the money? Does Tawes need rebuilding? Absolutely. So why start with a recreation center that also houses offices? Why not start with a building that facilitates academic learning - the main point for a university. I just want to take a look into what's going on with our money. It could be great. Could be terrible. Could be "eh."

Don't know yet.

I actually ran into something that caught me off guard yesterday. As President of our History honors society, Phi Alpha Theta, I went to Residence Life to have copies of a poster for an upcoming movie night put in the eleven residence halls. I only had two copies on me, hoping Res. Life could make copies for us, stamp them, and place them around. Of that latter two, they were willing.

But copies? Nope. Their response? "It's our paper."

WHAT?

Frostburg State University Maryland Resident Room and Board - $8752 (annual)

Room costs range from - $1832 - $2592 (per semester)

I think they may be able to afford to make copies for us. But hey, Residence Life is just another business, right? They're not a service by any means...

Now, I'm really not complaining because I was frustrated at their response, or that I didn't want to make the copies myself. But it's the principle of the matter. They are a part of a larger educational service. We're trying to do an event for other students.

Just saying.

"It's our paper." -- Yeah, it is.