Tuition was not an item on the Ohio University Board of Trustee’s agenda Friday, but that didn’t stop 25 students from protesting the meeting and calling for a tuition freeze.
“We’re concerned about our tuition, because we’re graduating with a lot of debt,” said Ellie Hamrick, a senior studying anthropology. “From the sit-ins and protests last year, it was clear that the students’ voices weren’t heard. … We wanted to get ahead if they try (to raise tuition) again in the spring.”
Fiscal responsibility, however, was highlighted in Friday’s general body meeting, which also included OU President Roderick McDavis’ report and recaps of Thursday’s seven committee meetings. The board unanimously passed nine resolutions.
On Thursday, the Academics and Resources committees jointly met twice to discuss both the federal and OU’s own “fiscal cliff.”
In McDavis’ report, he highlighted the effects of sequestration — mandatory cuts that will occur if the U.S. Congress does not act to cut the budget by Jan. 1. There would be an 8.2 percent program cut for domestic discretionary programs and 7.6 percent for mandatory spending programs.
The cuts would affect OU’s access to additional funding and include changes to its work-study program.
McDavis also said the number of visitors for the annual Halloween block party has been steadily decreasing since 2009 and added that he’s glad to see the trend.
“Our behavior is getting better, not only for our students, but for visitors to Athens,” McDavis said.
Trustees also voted to carry out various on-campus changes.
The consent agenda included an average 3.5 percent increase in instructional fees on regional campuses and four new renovation projects: Galbreath Chapel, Bush Hall, Bromley Hall and Central Food Facility.
“The Galbreath project is to be funded through a combination of debt issuance and state appropriations,” Trustee David Wolfort said.
The others will be funded by Residential Housing and Culinary Services auxiliary reserves. The total cost for all four projects is budgeted at more than $21 million.
Though most other resolutions were name changes, appointments or amendments, Wolfort presented two additional resolutions from the Resources Committee.
Both passed, the first allowing the committee to represent the entire board in receiving updates on and managing endowment and non-endowment investments, and the second disposing of a real-estate property bequeathed to the university by Earl Q. Teaford for the highest monetary value the university can receive for it.
One item that didn’t appear on the agenda was a discussion of the demolition of The Ridges’ Building 26, which Ron Luce, director of Athens County Historical Society and Museum, had requested be added before the meeting began.
Trustee chairwoman Gene Harris refused, adding that the board had been “very generous” in hearing Luce’s opinions and had already approved the demolition at a previous meeting.
“I’m very sorry the public is not allowed in a public operation,” Luce responded.
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