Students should protest UMass President William Bulger for the future of their own educations. The system, itself, is the problem as it jeopardizes its core mission to pursue unrealistic and hubristic expansion. Bulger’s path hurts students.
The Board of Trustees approved a system wide fee increase of $1,000 for in-state students and $2,000 for out-of-state students, or nearly 18%, for the coming 2003-2004 academic year. Only the student representative from UMass Amherst voted against the hike. Since 1989, fees have skyrocketed 453%! Unfortunately, fees are mandatory and permanent. Many fees are extraneous and never directly benefit the students who are forced to pay them.
Romney only sought an $838, or 15%, tuition increase. His plan would increase financial aid to offset the burden upon in-state students. The restructuring will prohibit campuses from raising fees and ties funding to student performance.
The establishment essentially hiked taxes upon working students. It is unconscionable to raise the costs of a college education without shattering the status quo. Support the Governor’s proposal to reorganize the University of Massachusetts and save public higher education.
Sincerely, Brock N. Cordeiro UMass Boston, Graduate Class of 2004.