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January 30, 2014 • Issue no. 34 Volume 26
Boise, Idaho
First issue free
Students question graduation fee As seniors prepare to graduate in the spring, they’ll be confronted with the task of not only applying for graduation, but paying for it as well. Although this fee is listed in the course catalog freshmen receive, many students are still surprised to see the disclaimer pop up on their screen as they apply for graduation via BroncoWeb. “I had heard rumors but I was not fully aware of it before I signed up,” said Austin Floge, a senior finance and accounting major. The cost to apply for graduation is $20/undergraduate degree or certificate and $25/ graduate or doctoral degree. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 27 for spring commencement, whether or not a student wants to walk in the graduation ceremony. Jonathan Aceves, a senior sociology major, was also unaware of the fact that he had to pay a fee in order to receive his
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I didn’t even know that you had to pay to graduate. It’s kind of weird that they make you pay for an application fee to graduate from school after you pay so much money for books and tuition. It seems extremely unfair. —Nicole Kopczynski
diploma. “I thought it was already a process that was figured into our other school expenses. It wasn’t too much of a shock, but it was unexpected,” Aceves said. Senior journalism major Nicole Kopczynski, who will graduate in December, had a similar reaction. “I didn’t even know that you had to pay to graduate. It’s kind of weird that they make you pay for an application fee to graduate from school after you pay so much money for books and tuition. It seems extremely unfair,” Kopczynski said. In addition to being unaware of the fact that they had to pay to apply for their degree, many students are unsure of
what the money actually goes toward. “I would be willing to pay the extra $20 if I knew where it was going,” Kopczynski said. Both Floge and Aceves assumed that the fees paid for the administrative cost of having someone determine whether or not an applicant was in fact eligible for graduation. In actuality, while some of the fee does cover administrative costs, the bulk of it pays for the graduate’s physical diploma and cover. Associate registrar Mandy Nelson explained that these diplomas are produced by an outside vendor. Nelson was quick to add that the registrar’s office doesn’t receive many complaints from students about the fee. She
Coolest cars on campus Lance Moore @LanceMoore07
Boise State is rapidly expanding in terms of attendance and it is also known as a commuter school. Many students need vehicles to get to and from
campus. People don’t often think about driving because it is something they do everyday. However, when those cars with that extra bit of flair go by, a student's attention can be captured for that split second. Car lover or not, it is
easy to have an appreciation for a beautiful vehicle. But how can a poor college student afford such cars? There is always a back story to the beauty. Some students are blessed with the fortune of having financially secure
2013 CHEVY CAMARO
Ahmed Alayadhi
Is the tuition increase page a positive or negative change for students?
How did you afford a car like this as a college student? “It was a gift from my parents.” Describe some of the emotions you felt driving around campus in a car like that. “I love my car, I feel very nice about driving it.” What is one of your favorite memories in your car? It is hard to say. Every day is a memory, either good or bad.
The university charges graduating students $20 to receive diplomas. said in a recent survey conducted by the registrar’s office of Fall 2013 graduates, only a handful out of the hundreds of respondents mentioned that they had been caught off guard by having to pay the fee for graduation. After applying for gradua-
tion, students need to make sure to pay the fee within 48 hours, otherwise the application is voided. Nelson explained the reason for this deadline is so that the office isn’t processing applications that haven’t been paid for yet. If a student is unable to
pay the fee, then they can appeal to the registrar’s office to have the fee waived. Additionally, the fee is a one time cost and if the application is denied, the student doesn’t need to repay the next time an application is submitted.
parents who provide these exceptional automobiles. Others save their own money (sometimes for years) and buy it all on their own. Whatever the reason, a car can become part of a person's identity. Being in college means developing that identity for many. A nice car may expedite that process. Throughout his time at Boise State, recent grad-
uate Aaron Nelson was just like any other student. He went to class, listened to his favorite songs plugged into headphones while hiding his face under a hoodie as he walked through the Boise State campus. Many didn’t know Nelson had a mistress, a mistress with whom he has had a loving five year relationship. This mistress is his
2008 Ford Mustang V6 with 17-inch rims which he has fittingly and adoringly named, “Mistress.” “I’m not going to lie, I loved driving my car around campus. It made me feel good when people would look at her. Confidence for sure but mostly feeling proud that she was mine and I worked hard for it,” Nelson said.
How did you afford a car like that as a recently graduated college student? “I bought the car myself. My parents co-signed the loan but they never paid a dime for the car. I paid it off in five years on my own. I moved to Boise in 2009 to start school. Boise State is the only school I applied to. I got in and moved here with all my possessions in my car.” Describe some of the emotions you felt driving around campus in a car like that.
Et tu, Titus?8
2008 Ford Mustang
Jason Getz/Mct Campus
Staff Writer
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Isabel Corona
“At least once a week students said ‘nice car’ or ‘sweet ride’.” What is one of your favorite memories in your car? “I remember driving here to Boise to start school. It was a 1,100 mile drive, 11 hours and I loved it. Open road all alone, just me my car and my entire future ahead of me. Then the day I graduated, driving her with my girlfriend and future wife in the passenger seat, the journey was ending.”
Daniel Wade
1970 Monte Carlo
How did you afford a car like this as a college student? “When I was 17 my parents got a loan to buy a 1970 Monte Carlo for me. We made a deal that I would make a payment of $250 a month until I payed them back in full. I recently paid them back last July so the car is officially mine.” Describe some of the emotions you feel driving around campus in a car like that. “When I do drive around campus I feel good in my car because this has always been a dream of mine to own a muscle car. I have had this car for four years and I have so many good memories with it.”
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