The Metropolitan Online - March 2005 - Money doesn't grow on students! The campaign to freeze tuition escalates

Approximately 1,200 to 1,500 college and university students descended upon the Capitol building in St. Paul on Feb. 9 to petition the state legislature for a tuition freeze for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU). Students from Metropolitan State University carried signs and enthusiastically joined in the cheers and chants that rose from the crowd. Some of the students yelled to a school bus of young children, “We’re doing this for your future!” —a sentiment that was echoed by several of the speakers on the Capitol steps.

The tuition freeze march began at St. Paul Technical College and ended at the State Capitol where students assembled on the steps while the theme from “Rocky” blared over the speakers.

Students came from all over the state to lend their voices to the cause. Bemidji State University’s beaver mascot was in enthusiastic attendance. Covered in a thick, faux-fur costume, the mascot was probably the warmest person in the crowd. And although the beaver was present, sport rivalries were not. The students came together for one purpose: to affect a tuition freeze.

The energy in the crowd was high. March organizers prompted, “What do you want?” and the crowd responded, “Tuition freeze!” “When do you want it?” the organizers continued, “Now!” yelled the crowd. Banners, signs, t-shirts and buttons sent the same message in a variety of ways: “How much did U pay for your higher education?” read one sign to the legislators at the Capitol. Others declared, “Everyone deserves an opportunity for higher education,” “I’m freezing, U should B2,” “Will work for food, after I graduate,” and “Money doesn’t grow on students!”

After about an hour and a half on the steps, the crowd was invited into the Capitol building where speakers made their point in the rotunda. Students went up to the microphone and told their individual stories. One woman broke down in tears while explaining that although she was an older student at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, she was single with no children. She had worked in the Head Start program for years until the president’s No Child Left Behind program dictated she could no longer teach Head Start without a two-year degree. She’s now going to school and earning only $7,000 a year so she can resume her position at Head Start—an organization that doesn’t pay well in the first place.

Another woman told about how she comes from a family of teachers and wanted to attend college to become a teacher as well. She learned by observing her family members that repaying student loans on a teacher’s salary isn’t easy. Many speakers talked about working two or three jobs to make ends meet. And some talked about the difficulties of raising children while going to school.

Justin Bruhn, associate director of Campus Relations, Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA), assured the crowd that a tuition freeze is not intended to draw money from the pockets of instructors, nor is it intended to lower the quality of education.

MnSCU Chancellor James McCormick is unhappy with Governor Pawlenty’s budget because it would mean a 9.5 percent increase in tuition costs next year. McCormick pointed out the Governor’s budget doesn’t keep enrollment adjustments in mind; it overlooks tens of millions of dollars. Minnesota law requires that the MnSCU budget be adjusted every two years to reflect changes in enrollment. When enrollment grows, the law requires the budget to be adjusted upward, and when enrollment declines, the budget is adjusted downward.

In the past four years, tuition has increased by 60 percent. A bill sponsored by Senator John Hottinger (D-Mankato), and Representative Jim Abeler (R-Anoka), was introduced in February to freeze tuition, but the state faces a projected $1.4 billion deficit, and many programs are competing for a limited amount of dollars. MnSCU will need nearly $64 million to keep tuition at the current rate for the next two years.

McCormick argues that in order to be competitive, Minnesota’s citizens need higher education—it is an investment in the state’s future. He questions how Minnesota’s businesses will fare without a properly educated workforce. Students have taken out more student loans in the past few years, which means they will start their careers deep in debt. This could pose a problem for Minnesota businesses if graduates are unable to accept a job in their field because the starting wage is too low.

In March, a group of Metropolitan State University students is going to Washington, D.C. to protest tuition hikes on a national level.

The battle to freeze tuition continues, and student leaders seek student support. Go to http://www.tuitionfreeze.org for more information about the campaign, and to locate your state legislator. Chancellor McCormick encourages students to contact legislators and tell them that public higher education benefits everyone, not just those who participate in it. In his message to students on the 2005 legislation session, McCormick explains, “Minnesota’s most precious resource is its people. As the state’s largest higher education provider, we educate Minnesota. We make it work. Investing in public higher education is a smart investment; the state’s future depends on it.”

The Metropolitan Home || Calendar || Masthead || Contact
Metropolitan State University Homepage