Dear Editor:
The Black Affairs Council would like to take a stance on the biggest issue that faces SIUC students at this present time. I thought the proposed 18 percent tuition hike for the upcoming year was an April Fool's prank. Over the past few weeks, my office has been flooded with various questions and concerns from students dealing with this issue, as well as in regard to their future here at SIUC. Chancellor Wendler seems to be looking for a different type of student. My question is what is your definition of a different type of student? Are we trying to delete those programs that recruit students who do not have the perfect GPA coming out of high school such as the CBS program? Are these those "different type" of students who we are attempting to delete? The Black, Hispanic and International Student councils, along with the Undergraduate Student Government at this University, have all expressed strong opposition in this matter. Students know what attracts students, and it is definitely not a 18 percent raise in tuition. I think we need to deal with one problem before we move on to another. Are we (SIUC) more concerned with getting more students an SIU education (retention), or are we more concerned with money here at SIUC?
Kevin Buford,
president, Black Affairs Council
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
