Carleton Students Rally Against Tuition Fee Hikes

OTTAWA, March 30, 2015 /CNW/ - Students, faculty and staff, are organizing on campus against another tuition fee hike, as well as a Board of Governors report that claims high tuition fees are not a barrier to pursuing post-secondary education.

"The Board is the highest decision-making body at Carleton, yet Governors seem unable to comprehend what life is like without six-figure salaries," said Theo Hug, Vice President External of the Graduate Students' Association (GSA). "Students cannot afford another tuition fee increase. We are already drowning in student debt, forced to take on secondary jobs, and face bleak job prospects after graduation."

"Students will be adding their student debt to a 'debt wall' in order to visually represent the level of financial hardship experienced by Carleton students," Hug continued. "Students are fed up and it's time our administration acknowledges that."

The rally is organized by the Carleton University Student Action Movement (CUSAM) and the Graduate Students' Association (GSA) in response to the Board of Governors' Task Force Report on the Affordability of the Tuition-fee Framework. Released on March 12, the Report ignores Carleton's strong financial position, alternative budgeting opportunities, and student hardship in order to conclude that Carleton has no choice but to increase tuition.

A response to the report by dissenting graduate student members of the Task Force was posted online, with an open letter calling on the Board of Governors to reject the report and to freeze tuition fees. The letter can be found at gsacarleton.ca and has been signed by hundreds of students, staff, faculty and alumni.

SOURCE Carleton University Graduate Students' Association

Media Contact: Theo Hug, GSA Vice-President External: 613-295-5551