The University of New Hampshire’s 2020-2021 tuition and fees lists that the undergraduate athletics fee for the academic year is $1075.00, or $537.50 per semester. The University of New Hampshire has prorated this fee for students despite no athletic games being played and hockey games beginning after students returned home for the semester. (These games have also been postponed, and are not allowed to have spectators.) The athletics department has also run a “Be the Roar” fundraiser to raise funds despite charging all undergraduate students a hefty fee and providing them with no games to attend.

     Additionally the athletics department has started fundraising by encouraging students to purchase a $50 cardboard cutout to be placed at hockey games - despite charging students their athletic fees. We are demanding UNH to refund students these fees as no services have been used associated with the fee. UNH defines this fee as: 

- Admittance to all home games of organized sports at UNH
- Financial support for athletes and athletic teams

     However, undergraduate students should not be responsible for the financial support for athletes during a global pandemic that has left many of them, and their parents, unemployed. The undergraduate student population also needs financial support during these times. While other fees have been routinely used, or at least available to students, such as the Hamel Rec center remaining open, PACS and Health and Wellness being available even if students are fully remote, etc. athletics has not provided any games or resources to students to justify a $537.50 fee for the semester. We, the undergraduate population, demand to be refunded for such a large fee that has, in no way, benefited the students that have been assessed said fee. Will you sign to support students today?