Administrators, SGA, host town hall meeting to discuss tuition increase at SU

On Wednesday Oct. 11, in the Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith Brown Memorial Union, the Student Government Association and university administration held a town meeting where students were able to discuss a proposal to raise tuition in spring 2007.
“This meeting was for the administration to know before it moves on with the raise in tuition how the students feel about it because I refuse to make decisions without the student body,” said Niiobli Armah, SGA President.
“Its like you’re driving on the road and you get a flat tire, it’s not your fault but it is your problem,” Armah said.
University administrators said the proposed tuition increase of $25 will be allocated to the athletics program that is currently short on traveling funds for the spring by $200k due to several unexpected factors.
A loss of revenue, due to losing up to 500 students because of new admission standards, raises in prices for police security, especially after the shootings during the SU versus Mississippi Valley State game, and losing football games are some of the factors dictating the need for an increase.
According to Chancellor Edward Jackson, the tuition increase proposal is the last resort in minimizing the financial deficit of the university’s athletic department.
Jackson said before going to students with a tuition increase, he and other campus administrators tried cutting corners in cost for the athletic department to curtail the department’s financial woes. Jackson also said a proposal to change the seating arrangements for students who sit on the 50 yard line in A.W. Mumford Stadium was also proposed as a solution but was struck down by SGA.
One student at the forum said the current tuition costs have yet to solve the problems already plaguing Southern, such as the athletic dorm Grandison Hall not having working air condition with temperatures reaching 80 degrees sometimes.
Robert Del Moore, a senior political science major from Baton Rouge, who also happens to be on the track team, agrees with the proposal.
“Because I’m an athlete and I understand the hardships that we already have, we can’t afford to have money reduced,” Moore said.
On the contrary, students like Gabrielle Ayers, a freshmen mass communications major from Magnolia, Texas, is against the impending increase.
“First they’re going to try to increase tuition for the infirmary again and now this, when is it going to end,” Ayers said.
Also announced at the meeting was the fact that any student of Southern has the opportunity to go to the Finance Office and receive a copy of the finance report that includes things like where funds are going and the exact salary of faculty.