Fee Rise Means Hunger Strike for Student President

Media
Release

28th August 2006
Attention: Education, Health and Political reporters
For Immediate Use

Fee Rise Means Hunger Strike for Student President

Students at Massey University Albany today sent a clear statement to the University council that fee increases would not be tolerated by students under any circumstances.

“Students at Massey Albany are fed up after years of paying hundreds of dollars extra in fee increases and will not tolerate further increases,” said Josh Clark President of the Massey Albany Students Association

“I am personally disgusted and the signaled move by the University to increase domestic fees by a massive 10% and will be going on a hunger strike today to protest against this injustice to students.”

“This 10% increase will see domestic students having to come up with up to an extra $500 to study at Massey University in 2007. Current student debt is already over eight billion dollars and steadily climbing, the University has a responsibility to students to help reduce this massive debt burden and not put up excessive fee increases.”

“The Government also needs to front up and properly fund our public tertiary education system so institutions do not need to place more of the costs onto students. Per student contribution from the Government has decreased over the past decade, it’s not good enough.”

“Students are already struggling to support themselves while they study at University and this proposed fee increase will just exasperate the problem. Students are one of the poorest and most debt ridden groups in our society, why the university would want to take more money from them in 2007 is beyond me and that is why I am going on a hunger strike.”

The university will set its 2007 tuition fees at the University Council Meeting on Friday the 1st of September at 9am at Massey University in Palmerston North. We will be holding a “No Fees increase” rally before the council meeting at 9 am.

ENDS

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