Anytime a faction of the university announces a proposal to raise student taxes our frugality kicks into autopilot. Or at least it should.

The Residence Halls Association's General Assembly will vote Wednesday on a proposal by Resident Hall Association, or RHA, President Kevin Newman to increase the per-semester student tax, which is currently $22 for on-campus residents.

First of all, our internal skeptic should ask, "Well, how much will this increase set me (or my parents) back?"

The about 14,000 on-campus residents brought in nearly $312,000 from the spring tax for the RHA and about $38,000 has been allocated for their reserve fund for a final 2005-2006 budget of about $350,000. However, Newman said that an additional $80,000 could be used to bring more concerts, movie rentals and other services to campus.

Newman said they don't plan on a tax increase of more than $3 — which would bring the total tax to no more than $25 per semester.

So for the price of a Frappuccino or a bubble tea, RHA promises that more services will be provided.

Skeptics hear $80,000 and think, "That is quite a daunting figure. Why so much?"

Well, it costs a lot of money to keep students entertained on campus.

Newman said that student demands are constantly growing. Programs like RHA Movies, RHA TV and the installation of wireless Internet in, eventually, every resident hall make up the majority of mounting costs.

Students usually take all this in stride. Anyone around campus can use these services anytime they want.

Especially the Campus Center Cinemas and RHA movie rental locations, which are cheaper than going to a movie theater or commercial movie rental place.

And keeping up with newly released movies costs money.

Would you like to see King Kong battling two dinosaurs and Jack Black or King Kong with strings and toy planes?

Additionally, RHA TV, which was formerly funded by MSU Housing and Residence Life, costs about $1,000 per year. And the wireless modules cost about $1,000 each, Newman said.

It's nice to know that our money is going toward services that can be utilized by every on-campus student.

Even skeptics can agree, paying $3 more is a fair price to keep students satisfied.