Students Rally Against Tuition Increases

About 1,000 students from universities and colleges throughout Utah, including around 30 Aggies, gathered at the Utah Capitol last Wednesday to rally against tuition increases.

Tuition at Utah State University will be raised at least 9.5 percent in the fall. Other schools, such as Southern Utah University, will be paying as much as 23.5 percent more in tuition.

Ariel Thrapp, a sophomore studying political science, joined other USU students to show her concern for higher education.

"I'm here to support higher education, and because I think it's necessary for the Legislature to see that students are concerned about things like this," she said.

"I want the Legislature to know that we care," said Tamara Thomas, a student from the University of Utah. "I left my class early because I thought this was more important."

As the students gathered together on the steps to hear their student leaders and senators and representatives speak to them, they held their signs high.

One of the debated topics was road construction. Many students held signs protesting the Legislature's decision to budget the state's money to pay for road construction instead of education. "Don't pave over higher education" and "Pave schools, not roads" were some of the slogans seen on the students' signs.

Others sported "Higher tuition equals no tomorrow," "You are killing the leaders of tomorrow. Don't blame students for the state's financial problems," and "You can't educate more people with less money."

Tom Robins, a junior studying history at USU, said he was there for his voice to be heard so the legislators would know college students care before they make any drastic changes.

He said last year the Legislature passed House Bill 331, which changed residency requirements without any student input. He was there to support Rep. Loraine Pace's HB 75, which will change the requirements for residency from 60 credits to 45.

"They need to realize students care about these things," Robins said. "I'm here to get my voice heard."

This is the fourth year that students from all over Utah have rallied during the legislative session. The Utah Council of Student Body Presidents, which leads the Utah Student Association (USA), led the rally and handed out fliers beforehand.

The flier listed the top three issues for the rally as getting more funding for higher education, curbing tuition hikes and amending HB 331. A statement on the flier that was echoed many times by students and student leaders throughout the rally said the last thing Utah wants to do during a time of economic hardship is prolong or prevent the education of its students.

As the rally began, Billy Edwards, the student body president at the University of Utah and USA's president, took the stand. He pointed out that the students who had shown their support and come to the Capitol represented a huge demographic in Utah, especially for an age group traditionally known as the least politically active.

A number of Utah senators and representatives were invited to speak to the students.

Rep. Ralph Becker said there is no question in his mind that tuition cannot continue to be raised.

"We need to make universities and colleges accessible to all," he said to loud applause.

Pace, who represents the Logan area, told the students of the bill she has introduced to help out-of-state students.

"We want to help students who want to come to Utah to study," she said.

She ended by reminding students that two-thirds of buildings built in the state are for higher education.

Most of the senators and representatives were met with applause and enthusiasm, but the few who claimed they were already doing everything possible or only praised how higher education has been treated by the Legislature, were followed by boos and catcalls.

All of the senators and representatives who spoke encouraged students to vote, become delegates and become involved.

Celestial Bybee, Associated Students of USU president, has attended the rallies for three years in a row.

"The number of students here this year adds up to more than the last two years combined," she said. "More legislators have come out this year than ever before."

Zach Takos, a junior in pre-law and economics, said he was there to show the legislators that students are not just students. They are also constituents.

Julie Dethrow, ASUSU Arts and Lectures vice president, said it is time to put the money where the future is, and the future is in higher education.

"If our money is cut, then everybody loses," she said.

Dethrow wondered why the congressmen's pay was raised earlier in the session at a time of legislative crisis.

"ASUSU would never give themselves more money at a time like this," she said. "The legislators shouldn't either."

Bybee wasn't sure if anything would come of the rally itself but hoped that students would start talking to others and become more active.

"This is a first step," she said. "And, it says a lot."