Last Thursday’s raucous protest highlighted the financial strains on college students. Several dozen people running through the Tempe campus with a bullhorn turned heads, especially with cops following them closely.
Protesting the tuition hikes, the students marched to the Fulton Center holding signs that read “Broke Ass Students Unite!” and “How Much is too Much?”
Just as the demonstration was losing steam, it regained life after someone suggested the protest be taken to President Michael Crow’s office door. As the students ran through the Fulton Center, a handful of cops and building administrators were close behind.
“If you cannot support 60,000 students, you shouldn’t admit so many and then charge an arm and a leg. I think we need to stop building new dorms and start supporting students,” said English freshman Sarah Lemley, who participated in the protest.
The fact of the matter is that, even last week, this rally was too little too late.
At some point, we must cooperate with administration if we are to be taken seriously.
“We had tuition hearings on all four campuses, which were for the public and students to make their voices heard,” said ASU spokeswoman Terri Shafer.
The tuition hearing on the Tempe campus was Feb. 28. Unfortunately, that date has long since passed and our time for discussion is no more. Jim Rund, senior vice president for University Student Initiatives, said tuition proposal plans have been finalized.
The Arizona Board of Regents passed the tuition proposal Thursday, increasing resident undergraduate tuition by around 13 percent and nearly 20 percent for incoming freshmen.
“We think we have a viable strategy to move forward. That does mean that we have to raise tuition for the people who can afford to pay, but we invest over $140 million annually of tuition revenue to need-based financial aid, which ensures that the doors of the University remain open to the people who deserve access to education but don’t have the means to pay,” Rund said.
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the demonstration was that those participating in it were knocking at the doors of the wrong culprits.
To address the root of this problem, our state Legislature must make funding higher education a priority. Rund said tuition increases are not made in an attempt to expand the University but to sustain current levels of funding.
“We understand that students have a responsibility for funding their education, but we also understand that the state government does too. We would like for both sides to be partners. Not only do students benefit from the degree, but the state does too,” Schafer said.
Unfortunately, the students’ partner, the state’s legislators, has been cheating on us the past two years. However, this November we have another chance. By casting a ballot there is an opportunity to sever ties with our not-so-beloved elected officials.
This is an even bigger occasion than a tuition hearing or tuition vote. We have the chance to put people in office who fund higher education, and in turn, our state’s future.
Reach Andrew at andrew.hedlund@a
