The UNA Board of Trustees will meet March 14 to decide whether or not UNA should move to Division I. On that same day, SGA plans to gather students to protest against the decision in favor of the move.

Less than a month ago, UNA students had the opportunity to vote on the move to Division I. The results showed that the majority of students who voted wished to remain in Division II. The main value in staying, according to SGA Vice President Ralph Akalonu, is the increased fee that will be one of the side effects of the move.

“Seventy percent of the students don’t want to pay the proposed fee of $125-$150,” said Akalonu. “It is our responsibility as student leaders of the student government and the faculty to reflect that in that protest saying ‘we don’t want this; it’s not in our best interest.'”

The final decision will rest with the Board of Trustees regardless of the vote.

“The board may hear from different university groups, like the Staff Senate, Faculty Senate, SGA, the president and each of those groups who will voice their opinions on the matter saying, ‘Here’s what our group is saying, here’s what the SGA is saying, here’s how we feel about it, the positives, the negatives,’ and from there it’s in the hands of the board,” said Josh Woods, director of University Communications.