I am writing in response to the article in the Reporter about the increase in student fees. It could be assumed that I am writing to criticize the institution and its unnecessary increases.

However, I do think personnel deserves to make a decent living, I agree 100 percent that technology is instrumental in moving the student body in a forward direction and I also think improving the shuttle system within South campus and between the North and South campuses is a great idea-and a much needed improvement.

The increase of fees for athletics is what I have a personal problem with-mostly because I never use the facilities that an ever-increasing portion of my money here at UB goes to. Since I enrolled at UB three years ago, I have been experiencing corpulent increases in student fees for the benefit of "intercollegiate athletics."

But what, may I ask, about the arts? The Center for the Arts, which is in fact part of the UB campus and actually houses many art, theater and dance, and media students, staff, and personnel, is completely overlooked when it comes to allocating and implementing student fees. Many non-art students are patrons of the CFA, and I am sure fill our 3,000-seat house more quickly than a stadium-the Dave Matthews concert, need I say more?

But that success was nearly two years ago and we have had very little money to book such popular performers lately. The money we could get from just a few dollars per student could help the CFA bring life to the campus, entertain and educate audiences and, most importantly, bring in outside performers and artists to hold workshops to broaden our learning experiences as art students.

But instead, we are ignored. Last year, I started a petition to get a $1-per-student fee instated-less than the cost of a bottle of water around here-and despite the hundreds of signatures, letters and emails, the proposal was denied without even an explanation. If at all possible, would someone consider bringing this up in an article or to someone "high up" on that ladder up there in Capen Hall?