Waikato Students furious about cynical international student fee grab
International students at Waikato University are furious that the University Council voted to increase student fees
today.
“International students are outraged that the University has shown so little regard for them by increasing their fees,”
said Sandy Pushpangalam, President of the Waikato Student Union (WSU). “This fee grab is a cynical move by the
University to extract even more money from struggling international students.”
“The Council has shown complete disregard for international students and is clearly out of touch with the reality for
international students, many of whom will be forced to rely on hardship funds and food banks as a result of this fee
hike.”
The only member of the University Council to vote against the fee increase was the student member and WSU President,
Sandy Pushpamangalam. Many students will have to discontinue their studies as a result of the fee hike.
“It is a bitter irony for international students that the University has a hardship fund for international students
given that if they did not put up student fees, there would be less student poverty.”
“International students will be meeting later this week to plan further protest actions to express student anger against
the fee increases.”