Tuition Meltdown heats up university students

-- Andrea Jackley

Tuition costs have hit crisis levels in Minnesota and some students have had enough. On Jan. 25, Metropolitan State University’s student senate and the Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA) set out to educate students about tuition hikes and how to do something about them.

The Tuition Meltdown was held in New Main’s Great Hall on the St. Paul Campus from early afternoon to mid-evening. Students could sample a variety of activities, along with free hot chocolate and cookies. Members of the student senate, including President Chad Hendrix and Public Relations Director Lim Chang, were on hand with MSUSA Organizing Director Kelly Asche to answer student’s questions and to promote educational material. They were working with students to keep them informed and involved in alerting state officials about tuition cost concerns.

"We want to make sure legislature recognizes that student tuition is an important issue, one that needs to be addressed," said Asche.

Minnesota’s tuition costs have risen 70.8 percent in the last six years, an average of 11.8 percent per year. Many of these increases have come in light of state appropriation cuts, or reductions in the state’s contribution of funds to operate Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU).

Since 2003 the state has slashed appropriations by $191 million, $173.6 million of which has been compensated for with tuition hikes, according to MSUSA.

In 2000, the total state appropriations used to cover higher education costs was 67 percent versus 33 percent tuition revenue. According to MSUSA, in 2006 those numbers had risen to 52 percent state appropriations and 48 percent tuition revenue. According to the national report card on higher education, Measuring Up 2006, Minnesota scored a "D" for affordability.

"Minnesota used to be known for premier higher education — but we’re slipping in the ratings. We’re near the bottom in state appropriations for higher education," commented Asche.

Sen. Sandra L. Pappas (DFL), chair of the Senate’s Higher Education Committee, and Rep. Karen Clark (DFL) were both scheduled to attend the Tuition Meltdown but failed to appear due to scheduling conflicts. Still Pappas, Asche contends, "[is] a good resource for higher education representation in legislature."

One of the main purposes of the Tuition Meltdown was to organize Metropolitan State students for Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA) and MSUSA’s annual Rally Day on Feb. 14. Starting at 10 a.m., students from MnSCU schools around the state will meet at St. Paul College and march to the state capitol. Students will then participate in lobbying centered on Minnesota’s rising tuition costs. MSUSA Chair Justin McMartin, among others, will speak at the gathering.

One of MSCSA and MSUSA’s goals this Rally Day will be to push for an additional $70 million in state funding on top of MnSCU’s approved request of $177 million for 2008-2009. This money would, ideally, be used to eliminate a proposed four percent tuition increase.

According to MSUSA, a four percent increase in 2001 meant $81 but today translates to more than $200. Metropolitan State students currently pay approximately $161 per credit, or $2,541.45 for a full-time, 15-credit load per semester.

Telling comments came from the campus’ student comment board. "I can’t afford it," said one student, "it’s a good thing I work at the college." Another said, "If minimum wage receives as many hikes as tuition we could do away with poverty."

Let’s just hope these incognito students make their voices heard on Rally Day.

For more information about Rally Day 2007, visit the MSUSA Web site at http://www.msusa.net or call (651) 224-1518.