After a crowd of 500 naked and partially clothed students gathered outside a student union meeting to protest tuition hikes at the University of Calgary in Canada two weeks ago, the Board of Governors at the university still voted to approve the tuition increases Monday.

The Feb. 2 protest was hosted by the Students’ Union and focused on how the tuition hikes would force students to sacrifice everyday essentials, said Charlotte Kingston, president of the Students’ Union.

‘We won’t even be able to afford basic necessities like clothing,’ Kingston said.

The protest lasted longer than an hour and a half and was structured like a public forum. It provided the opportunity for Provost Alan Harrison to explain to students the need for tuition increases as well as the effects of the increase on financial aid and student facilities, Kingston said.

The forum allowed students to ask Harrison questions regarding the tuition increases, said Ryan Pike, opinion editor for the University of Calgary’s weekly student publication, ‘The Gauntlet.’

Grady Semmens, associate director of media relations for the University of Calgary, said the Board of Governors voted to increase tuition by 1.5 percent across the academic board. By law, the university is only allowed to raise tuition by the rate of inflation, Semmens said.

The reason for the tuition increase is the university is receiving less money this year compared with previous years from the provincial government of Alberta, where Calgary is located, Semmens said.

‘After years of receiving increased funding, we are seeing a decrease this year,’ Semmens said.

At the Board of Governors meeting, the University of Calgary’s Students’ Union voiced concerns over tuition increases and will do so again at the next meeting in April, Kingston said.

The Students’ Union gave a presentation proposing that tuition increases be gradually implemented and allow for 20 percent of the increases to be put aside for student needs, Pike said.

Kingston said she believes the protest was an excellent way for students to voice their concerns over the proposed tuition hikes and to get involved with the community. None of the students in attendance faced repercussions for their decision to protest, she said.

‘The meeting had been organized for a long time,’ Kingston said. ‘We don’t protest often, but we have every right.’

The university sees the tuition increase necessary in balancing the school’s budget and adjusting to increases in employees’ salaries, Semmens said.

Professional programs will also face drastic tuition increases. These increases will be voted on in April, Semmens said.

Although students will see increases in tuition, Semmens said, the amount of financial aid should not be affected. Students at the university may actually see an increase in the accessibility to financial aid loans, he said.

eamaher@syr.edu

Published on February 22, 2010 at 12:00 pm