Students confused about "Fees/Donations" form

An Article by Sean Riley

Early this weekend, a packet arrived in the mail including all the details for the 2007-2008 schedule, a letter obviously reprinted from last year, from Chatard, plus a little confusion: the Fees/Donations form.

The fees or donations form is so confusing, nobody gets it. So which is it? A fee or a donation? Are these payments mandatory?

The confusion is so immense that many students' parents have inserted two checks, one as a donation to the outstanding programs at Grant, and one for the mandatory fees such as the Choralaires dress and the $25 student I.D.

"It's definitely a shame they don't make things more clear. I'm sending my son in with two checks," says Marsha Hagan, mother of a freshman student. Other families find it totally deceptive and refuse to pay any fees at all.

"F*** that, I ain't payin' for sh** if they aren't gonna be up front about it," says an angry parent. "Donations or mandatory fees... Whatever the hell they are," she complains.

It is still unclear to many whether or not these fees are mandatory. However, these donations do go to supporting Grant which is often celebrated for having such oustanding and diverse programs, so it may be a good thing to donate.

But, um -- 25 dollars for a student body card?