UC Finds, Fights 'Hidden Costs'

The Undergraduate Council (UC) met last night to launch its Hidden Cost Campaign, aiming to reduce the myriad small fees that face Harvard students and eliminate the new tax on gifts to student groups.

Though these daily costs eat into the income of every undergraduate, they are particularly hard to shoulder for low-income students, according to UC President John C. Haddock ’07.

“The financial aid packages and the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative are incredible steps, but they’ll never be able to address a lot of the unexpected costs,” Haddock said.

Haddock began the meeting by identifying four primary areas of “hidden cost”: academics, community participation, laundry, and student group activities.

The UC members, as well as several student group leaders also in attendance, then formed groups to discuss how to eliminate these costs.

UC member Amadi P. Anene ’08 emphasized reducing the cost of course books, which he said averages $600 per semester. “Such a one-time financial hit for low income students can be very, very tough,” Anene said.

Rachel A. Culley ’07, a self-described low income student who attended the event, said that buying her course books has proved difficult each semester.

Noting that her parents do not pay for her books, Culley said she often does not purchase textbooks at all. “Some students end up not taking the classes that have too many books or an expensive course pack because they’re worried about the costs.”

Nitesh K. Banta ’08, the treasurer of the Mather House Committee (HoCo), said that the cost of house apparel also affects low income students. “I spend lots of money every year on the Mather T-shirt and sweatshirt,” Banta said. “Since the house is supposed to be the umbrella community, I think it’s damaging when students don’t feel like they’re a part of it for financial reasons.”

The UC members also criticized the cost of printing and copying, for which many peer institutions do not charge, and the $1 laundry fee that goes to fund HoCos. Because low income students are more likely to use dorm laundry facilities, they disproportionately fund HoCo budgets, according to material distributed at the meeting.

Culley also identified the difficulty of paying other fees that some students may overlook. Noting that replacement fees for lost student IDs can reach up to $40, Culley said pointedly, “Forty dollars is half a week’s work for me.”

Attendees also complained about costs facing Harvard’s student groups.

The Harvard Box Office fee for selling tickets—$0.50 each—ends up draining the funds of student groups, according to Banta. Mather pays hundreds of dollars to the Box Office to sell tickets for events such as the Mather Lather and House formal, Banta said.

Black Men’s Forum President Charles J. Hamilton ’07 called for the repeal of the University Hall tax on the student group gift fund. The tax is 5 percent this year and will increase to 15 percent in three years.

The UC estimates that the 5 percent tax will accrue $20,000 for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which currently runs a $100 million operating deficit. “It’s pretty clear that [the tax] hurts students more than it helps the administration,” Hamilton said.

“Things like the tax on student gift accounts, things like the lack of assistance for course books and coursepacks,” Hamilton said, “all fall under the basic theme of Harvard’s administration doing things that aren’t necessarily in the best interest of the students.”

—Staff writer Margot E. Edelman can be reached at medelman@fas.harvard.edu.