page four

 

 

 

~ Other Speak

 

 

Nobody at Douglas College wants to talk about tuition
increases.

Usually, that’s a good thing, however, currently it’s
not.

At a meeting of college bursars, Sept. 9, where Bill
Morphy from Douglas College was present, a memo was
introduced recommending that community colleges
consider raising their tuition fees.

Although the memo was not from the office of the
minister of education, Brian Smith, there has since then,
been action taken at both Capilano and Douglas College
towards tuition increases.

As is usual, the BC Students Federation has begun
procedure to halt any tuition hike. Currently, they are
working with the student society at Capilano to block the
proposed hike.

At Douglas College, however, the student society (or
more accurately, the student society president, Kevin
Hallgate) refuses to comment on any tuition increase
until after the college board has a definite proposal.

Hallgate is courting the board on the proposal. Unless
the student society tells the board, immediately, that the
students at Douglas College shouldn’t have to pay
higher tuition, they will have a harder task of opposing
the increase later, after a definite proposal is made.

At the college board level no one is willing to talk
about the matter until after the tuition review committee
meets in two weeks.

Members of the administration are quick to point out
that there has only been one tuition increase in the
colleges ten year history. Otherwise they don’t say
anything else except that questions will have to wait
until after the meeting.

The issue-opening memo states that while inflation
and other factors have increased the cost of education in
the past several years, the increase has not beem
reflected in student fees.

By limiting education to only those that can afford it,
the..institutions. are discriminating against people in
lower income groups.

Quite simply there are a lot of people in the lower
mainland who want and deserve an education but can’t
afford the $125 tuition fee. Community colleges were
originally set up to provide a place for lower income
groups to get a post-secondary education. As it stands
now the average student at Douglas College comes from
a middle income family. If the college were to increase
tuition, even by $25, there would be that many more
people unable to afford what is now known as the
privilege of attending college.

A post-secondary education should be a right, not a
privilege. Universities and colleges should be open to
anyone who wants to attend them.

By not informing the community, both inside and
outside of the college, of the boards intentions with the
tuition committee, the board is giving the appearance of
approving an increase even though it is aginst popular
opinion.

The student societies tight-lipped attitude casts the
same appearance. ,

Recently, college students haven’t protested tuition
increases with the vehemence of the past because they
rationalize that they personally could still afford the
fees.

What about the people who aren’t in college now
because even last years tuition was too high? =,

 

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The Other Press

Friday, Nov. 7, 1980.