Student fees totalling $1.72 were recommended by the NIU President’s Fee Study Committee Thursday.

The NIU President’s Fee Study Committee voted unanimously to recommend to President John LaTourette a refundable, $1-per-year student fee to benefit the Illinois Student Association, if it is accepted through an upcoming student referendum.

Student Association President Jim Fischer said he was not sure when the referendum would take place, but the $1 student fee would be used to create a new ISA office in Springfield and help pay for ISA student interns.

The committee’s proposal states, “should the referendum (results) mean students have no objections, we have no objection to its implementation.”

Fischer said student fees for the 10-year-old ISA now are collected at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and Champaign, and Illinois State University and Sangamon State University are looking at proposals to establish the fee.

In other matters, a proposed budget for grants and aid included a $2.16-per-year increase in full-time student fees, but the committee reduced the amount to 72 cents. The fee will be used for recipients of grants and aid.

If accepted, the recommended new student fees will be charged on tuition bills for the 1988 fall semester.

The committee also considered a request for a $1.68 per semester increase of the athletic fee for new AstroTurf or lighting and seating improvements for Huskie Stadium, but declined to vote because of unclear information in the proposal.

The University Council will consider this proposal at a meeting Feb. 10.

The President’s Fee Study Committee will meet again Jan. 25 to consider undecided issues, such as the Huskie Stadium fee increase.

The committee’s recommendations will be sent to LaTourette Feb. 1.

The committee also unanimously voted against a student fee and proposal to convert the Northern Star to a university-related organization.

However, committee chairman Anthony Fusaro said, “The assumption is that the fee is going to be passed by the University Council.”

The Star intended to use fee money collected to expand the size of the paper, increase the amount of stories, increase pay to existing employees and pay for rising printing costs.

The committee made no other recommendations on student fees for other NIU services, as no increases were proposed in most areas.

Recommendations from the nine-member President’s Fee Study Committee are given to LaTourette. A final recommendation will be sent to the Illinois Board of Regents in March for final approval.