For the last decade, students at Winona State University have been faced with tuition increases ranging from figures in the double digits to a lesser four percent.
This year, Winona State Student Senate is taking a stand against the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees.
With the death of former Student Senate president Jared Stene and the recent requests for resignation of all Student Senate committee chairs, the decision on whether to support up to a four percent increase in tuition for 2008-2009 had continually been postponed.
At the Student Senate meeting Jan. 24, senators passed a motion supporting a zero percent tuition increase with a vote of 10-7.
After a brief discussion with Junior Sen. Charles Molberg and Education Sen.Terri Burke, Junior Sen. Josh Martin voted to amend the motion which would implement more tuition relief responsibility on the Office
of the Chancellor.
There was an obvious split in opinion when it came to the decision
of whether or not to support the motion.
Minnesota State University Student Association Campus Representative and Senior Sen/ David Obray felt favoring a zero percent increase would cause more harm to the university than good.
“(It is) unrealistic that our school can operate on a zero percent tuition increase,” said Obray.
Senior Sen. Andrew Schuler echoed Obray’s comments by adding that tuition relief “won’t come from MnSCU, it will come from our campus.”
Education Sen. Nathan Lynne called the recommendation “radical,” and that the Winona State campus would not receive a zero percent tuition increase.
Other senators felt that by supporting the recommendation,
Winona State would be sending a message to the MnSCU
Board of Trustees.
“(The motion) is a stance,” said Burke. “Will a zero percent increase happen? I don’t know, but the state isn’t meeting our obligation and we need to stop paying out of pocket.”
Liberal Arts Senator Phillip Bergstrom felt the motion would tell MnSCU that Winona State students will not support tuition increases in the future.
Last semester the Student Fee Management Committee presented a recommendation to support up to a four percent tuition
increase.
Former Liberal Arts senator Ian Galchutt originally amended
the motion by asking the MnSCU Board of Trustees for a zero percent increase.
Contact Dana at DJKudelk7481@winona.edu