After holding a three-hour sit-in against the 3.5 percent tuition hike, an Ohio University student came to speak with Ohio University’s Student Senate during their weekly meeting Wednesday to inform the senate why a tuition increase is unnecessary.
“I think a tuition increase is a bad idea, and it is frankly unfair and irresponsible,” said Tyler Barton, a senior studying chemistry. “If the university increases tuition on students, a lot of students will take on more student loan debt.”
The Board of Trustees will vote on April 20 to determine whether or not tuition will increase.
“I personally have $22,000 in student loan debt and I know there are people in this room who have more than that, and quite frankly student debt sucks,” Senate President Kyle Triplett said. “But we have to think about the quality of our education and in the long term we have to keep doing what we are doing and ask tough questions to administrators.”
In addition, the senate approved Resolution #112-35 to adopt a report from the budget committee, which included the purchase of supplies for Take Back the Night, a weeklong event to raise sexual awareness.
Shea Daniels, president of united campus ministries also presented to the senate Wednesday evening. Daniels said United Campus Ministries serves 5,000 free meals annually.
“Everyone is accepted no questions asked, we have Saturday lunch and Thursday supper,” she said.
UCM is located on 18 N. College Street and they offer free meals on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 1:00 p.m.
“We try to offer people more than a meal, we offer a sense of community, hope and friendship,” said Sam Fersky, an intern at UCM.
