Fall bills have been mailed out for the new semester, and students are once again forced to take on the burden of loans as they seek higher education. Those living in the dorms will have to pay their Residence Halls Association dues as well. But this payment is not required and, in fact, students can receive their money from RHA at the beginning of the semester just by asking for it.

I am not advocating all students withdraw their money from RHA support, but students need to know what benefits they are receiving from RHA for this past semester's payment. If you're curious about what benefits RHA offers you, seek out your RHA representative and ask them why you should support RHA. The many causes the RHA represents are often not seen by the students, but before you pay, you should know what you're getting for your $21.

If you're not satisfied with the services RHA provides and don't believe your money is being spent wisely, ask for it back. There is no reason for you to give your money away to a cause you don't believe in. But if you feel the services RHA provides are enough to warrant this payment each semester, make sure your RHA representative knows it, and try to take an active part in deciding where the money goes.

Remember, it's your money. You should have some influence over where it goes.

Fred Sharp
mechanical engineering senior