Last week we asked readers to send us their feelings on the new Proposed AU tuition policy [see last week’s Over Extended for more information – v11 i11, March 12, 2003].

I’ve also had a number of people interested in commenting on topics that we have already covered, or on topics that we have not yet posted. Therefore, I will accept comments on previous topics as well, and feel free to suggest future topics as well.

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Well I am appalled by the new tuition increases of 7%. If AU prices keep going up as an out of province student I will start considering other options. The Editor is right when they say that AU doesn’t have to maintain buildings and classrooms. Heck there is no lecture as you read it all yourself. Tuition should be going down not up. The President of the school should be forced to justify its costs over this newsletter.

Hey Editor how about an exclusive interview? Now I am not going to say that I am a dissatisfied student. I am not. I like AU but they really have to justify these new expenditures! Here in Ontario the Liberals are proposing a 2 year tuition freeze until they can examine the situation. What really irks me as an out of province student is that I can’t vote that red-neck hick out of office. Well all I can say to Albertans is with the last election and the number seats you gave him is “You get the government you elect you get the government you deserve.” Your no sales tax and tax cuts are work!

Arthur Setka
Computer Science Student
Peterborough, Ontario

[ed. I’ll try to get that interview. For changes to out of province tuition, and an update to the proposed fee increases, read the Voice next week…]

Is anyone as upset as I am about the ever increasing costs of furthering one’s education. If you didn’t read last week’s editorial on the increase (yet again) of tuition and other fees, stop right now and go and read it [ed. March 19, 2003, v11 i12]. Tamra made some very interesting points in a very informative article on issues that we should all be paying closer attention to. Not the least of which is her comments on COMP 200. Yeah, is what I say, how come I have to pay for material and book costs when my entire course is online? I understand that collectively as students in this province we are all suffering with the huge increases we have seen in recent years. An example of such is my ex-husband. When he finished his education in 1995, after 8 years of University, his total repayment for his student loans was just over $11,000. To put that into perspective 8 years later, at the end of my 3 year degree, the amount I will have paid will be over $17,000.

Am I the only one who thinks there is something wrong with this picture? I challenge all students, not just at AU, but across the province to send a letter to our wonderful Minister of Education and say, “we aren’t going to take it anymore.” It will only take a minute, and you certainly can spare it if you are reading this. So do it!!! Why are students obligated to remain poor for many years to come, when all we are trying to attempt is to better ourselves? We need to stand up and say, “take the money from the rich, instead of making them richer, and stop making the poor, even poorer.” If the government raised the Capital Gains tax amount from the present 50% to 100% as I believe it should be, that alone would generate enough money to pass on in transfers for the provinces, so that all students could stop being penalized for wanting to do something with our lives.

Here is the link to the Minister, so you don’t have to search :
http://www.gov.ab.ca/home/ministries/ministries_detail.cfm?MIN_ID=15

If we don’t speak up, nothing will change!!!

Jacquie Poier

I’ve had a number of other comments on this topic in my email box this week. Rest assured, there will be more discussion on these increases:

Send your comments to voice@ausu.org