University of Calgary Students Protest Another Tuition Increase

Students at the University of Calgary held a demonstration on Friday over the increase of tuition by the school’s board. The student’s union says some students may not be able to afford to keep learning.

Angry students pounded on the windows and chanted outside the room where the U of C’s board of governors voted the increment. The student union said then students were not properly consulted, or given a transparent report on where the money is going, reports global news.

Mateusz Salmassi, vice-president of external relations of the University of Calgary’s students’ Union said “students are at a breaking point. More and more of us are unable to afford or are choosing between food and shelter and the cost of our education.

“To add insult to injury, the university refused to consult students in a timely manner. We need meaningful consultation. We need transparency… We are talking about young Albertans, and I think that they should feel a very large amount of shame. I think they should be very ashamed of themselves.”

“Our message for them going forward is that students will not be silent after this,” said Salmassi.

The university said the increase was “based on a thorough analysis of the situation, including inflation and cost increases.” The new increase in tuition will take effect May 1.

Visit www.africanpridemagazine.com for more stories.