DANIELLE MALOTT/Arizona Daily Wildcat History sophomore Sarah Gettinger looks on as Erin Walsh, a psychology and anthropology senior, paints a slogan onto a T-shirt during a protest against a proposed tuition hike outside the Harvill Building yesterday afternoon.

Activists concerned with use of students' tuition dollars

When a group of about 15 student activists gathered Wednesday night, they knew they opposed a tuition hike. What they didn't know was how to be heard. Less than 24 hours later, they were presenting a list of demands to the Arizona Board of Regents.

Among them: a freeze on campus construction, the creation of a student-staffed budget oversight committee and the assurance that a hike won't hurt teaching or research assistants.

The activists made those demands at the regents' tuition forum late yesterday afternoon, saying that students haven't been adequately informed about the proposed $1,000 tuition hike.

Before and during the beginning of the forum in the Harvill building, they stood outside, beating drums, passing out fliers and shouting to passersby about what they called an unjust increase that will make a UA education unaffordable for middle-class students.

I'm not here for myself; I'm here for everyone. - Sarah Gettinger a student opposed to the tuition hike

One girl wore a shirt that read, "Need beer money, save $1,000."

For the activists, it's been a struggle to garner student support for their cause, but they see it as their mission to inform students about the ramifications of the hike.

"I'm not just here for myself," said history sophomore Sarah Gettinger. "I'm here for everyone."

But Gettinger and other protesters wonder if students care.

After sending 362 e-mails across campus informing people of an organizational meeting Wednesday night, they were discouraged that only about 15 people actually attended, especially because they think many students oppose a proposed $1,000 increase.

"You talk to people and people are pissed," said Roberto deRoock, a Latin American studies senior.

The activists accused university administrators of misleading students about the uses of tuition money, and said too much money is being used for research rather than teaching.

"Are we doing research that can directly benefit students, or are we doing research that's going to make money for corporations?" asked anthropology senior Aaron Kappeler, president of the Young Socialists club.

As they talked with passersby, they voiced skepticism as to whether the UA administration would follow through with promises to increase financial aid so a tuition hike doesn't hurt the most needy students.

Doubting that President Pete Likins is sincere about that promise, they asked the regents to assure them that money would actually go toward aid.

"I flat out don't believe them," Kappeler said.

The regents did not respond to comments at yesterday's forum, but Likins and most regents have said the only reason large tuition hikes are being considered is that a financial aid increase could offset the harm for needy students.

Earlier this year, Likins called need-based financial aid "the one firm commitment I'm willing to make."

Under Likins' proposed plan, about $20.6 million is set aside for financial aid, out of the $34.5 million in revenue generated by the hike.

Outside the forum, student lobbyist Ryan Patterson said the protesters made some valid points, but with tuition setting less than a week away, he wonders if there's enough time left for any of their concerns to be addressed.

"I wish there was a way we could have heard some of these demands earlier in the year," Patterson said.