The University Student Appeals Board is expected to make a decision next week on whether an almost 20-year-old rule should apply to the fate of a tax on renewable energy.
The board discussed the addition of the $5 tax to student tuition with ASMSU and Student Life officials on Wednesday. ASMSU is MSU's student government.
The university rule requires new fees introduced by student governments to be voted on by more than 50 percent of undergraduate students, and a majority of those students must approve the measure for it to be implemented.
But there is no requirement on the number of students who must vote in order to change a fee that already exists, such as increases in ASMSU's tax. The undergraduate student government wants to up their tax from $13 to $18 to accommodate Eco's interest in purchasing environmentally friendly energy sources such as solar or wind power for university farms.
But Lee June, vice president for Student Affairs and Services, said the proposed tax is a new program and therefore needs half of the undergraduate population to vote.
He argued ASMSU is not involved with environmental projects, so he considers Eco's request to the undergraduate government to be the start of a new program.
"It was originally put in to put integrity into the system," June said.
But some students say the requirement will discourage students from heading to the polls.
"To have a vote mean something is one of the most cherished rights we have," said Amy Lesiewicz, an Eco member who spoke at the hearing. "Students who bother to show up and vote should not be ignored because other students didn't."
In February, Matt Weingarden, former Student Assembly chairperson for ASMSU, appealed the 50-percent rule.
Weingarden said the $5 tax should not be considered a separate fee because it is an addition to ASMSU's existing $13 base tax.
ASMSU would control the new money, not Eco, he said.
"I'm in an uncomfortable position," he said. "I'd like to think of myself as an advocate for the students. But I'm mulled over this."
A decision is expected to be reached within a week.
