Students Voice Opinions on Tuition Increase

Editor-in-Chief

   Some students complained about budget cuts and tuition increases after an announcement from Michael Thomas, Student Government Association president, in a meeting Sept. 11.

   Thomas announced only writing assignments can be printed in the writing center. He said if students need to print off other materials, they can do so in the computer lab upstairs in the Fred J. Taylor Library and Technology center. The announcement prompted a heated debate between students in attendance.

Photo by Brittany Pickett

Discussion -  SGA officers discuss using the writing center for academic use only with students at the meeting Sept. 11. Students in attendance voiced their opinions on the budget cuts, tuition increases and the use of their fees.

   Billy Huggins, cheerleader and Phi Beta Sigma member, asked Thomas, “Why can’t we print what we want? We pay for it.”

   Phi Beta Sigma member Matthew Robinson added to Huggins argument by announcing the university should lower tuition since the budget was cut.

   “This (budget for writing center materials) is coming out of our fees,” Robinson said.

   After other students complained about not wanting to walk across campus to the library to print documents if already in the writing center, Thomas pointed out how budget cuts affected the entire campus.

   “Everyone’s budget was cut. It’s not about ‘it’s not fair.’ The writing center is for writing,” Thomas said.

   Michael Reynolds, SGA vice president, said he agreed with Thomas’s statements.

   “The writing center is for academic work,” Reynolds said.

   Thomas reminded students how low the campus’ tuition is compared to other Arkansas universities.

   Other topics of discussion during the meeting include:

• Rowdy Crowd T-shirts: Members voted to order more T-shirts for Parent/Family Appreciation Day, as discussed in the Student Activities Board meeting Sept. 9.  Shirts will be $6.50 for 200 shirts. The shirts will be only be handed out to current students with  campus identificiation.  SGA members will hand out the shirts inside the gate where the band marches in for football games at 5:30 p.m.
• Reynolds announced SGA has selected 22 student senators so far. A student senate meeting took place Friday, Sept. 12.
  

   SGA will meet again Sept. 25 at 12:45 in the John F. Gibson University Center House Room. The next SAB meeting will take place Tuesday, Sept. 23.

   For more information about SGA or SAB, please contact Mindy Holcomb, Student Programs and Activities director, at 460-1396 or Holcomb@uamont.edu.

 Have a comment? Please e-mail us.

©The Voice 2008