Only five students unaffiliated with ASUA or the Arizona Board of Regents showed up to yesterday's tuition forum to share their concerns with the proposed tuition hike.
Of the 14 UA students who attended the hour-long forum in the Kiva Room at the Student Union Memorial Center, seven were ASUA officials, one was a former student lobbyist and one was a student regent hopeful. Student Regent Danelle Kelling, a law student at ASU, also attended the forum.
Alistair Chapman, a student lobbyist, said he wished more students had attended the meeting to learn more about the rationale behind the tuition proposals.
Student lobbyists released their tuition proposal Monday and asked for a $400 tuition hike for in-state students. President Peter Likins also released his proposal Monday, calling for a $490 increase. Both requested an increase of $700 from out-of-state undergraduates.
Chapman said the low turnout may reflect that students are not worried yet about the proposals, or that they realize the numbers are not yet set.
But he said the student lobbyists still have a good feel for student's opinions, from polls and visits to various campus organizations.
Those who showed up at the forum did not express concern over the size of the tuition increase. Instead, they said they were concerned about where the money would go.
Ryan Patterson, a first-year law student and former student lobbyist, said students are unaware of the reasons behind the increases, and that it would be beneficial for students to pinpoint exactly why the UA needs the increases.
Nick Green, a student lobbyist, said student lobbyists would also like to know exactly where the money would go.
Kelling said it is impossible for administrators to determine today where the money would go, since they don't have the necessary information to determine that until the first day of school.
She said students need to understand that tuition goes into a pot, and no money is specifically earmarked for a particular use.
But she said tuition money would likely go toward faculty retention and class availability.
Likins said the revenue generated by last year's $1000 tuition increase paid for financial aid, new courses, faculty salaries and employee costs.
Chapman said, after listening to students' concerns, that the student lobbyists will go to Likins and ask him to outline where he wants to use the money and what changes will be made with the increases.
"Students want to see results and be positively impacted by tuition increases," Chapman said.
Students at the forum also asked whether they would see the benefits of the tuition hike now or if only incoming students would.
Alexis Coury, a student lobbyist, said students should feel a positive impact in the next two years regarding class availability, faculty retention and any other area Likins decides to impact.
Benedict said some students have already been impacted by last year's increase, citing how freshmen this year signed up for an average of 14.5 units, while signing up for only 11.5 units last year.
There will be an official tuition hearing with the regents on Feb. 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Harvill building, Room 211.