Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Jan. 24, 2002, edition 1 / Page 4
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THE SEAHAWK/JANUARY 24, ZOOZ qIs-™ '"Excellence Through Truth and Dedication” Since 1948 Megan O’Bsien - EdUor-In-ChUf Lyndsey M. Bland - Managmg Editor Ashley Delph - Advertising Director Heather Grady - News Editor Sarah van Schagen - Lifestyles Editor /jfluul£di>n:Spo>tt-BcilJoM> Sl^miUn: Katie Blanchard Special Sections Editor Wes Melville - Sports Editor James Flint - Photo Editor Kevin Knight - Advisor Bill DiNome - Student Media Coordinator MtitwSo^olPntMKnlJauMM. TtejtoM utbattaTibralMtSatvlatorpatiastilcot ^ M e 2001. ■n» Striawfc Ni lit SuMnH'ichoiMonM Editorial Viewpoint THEENI. WH0 TRIED USflFTHE AIR WE ■THINK ITS T1METOTWH oSvJntw RHETORIC? Dear Editor. “What do we wantWe want a voice. “Why do we want it? We want a choice. “When do we want it?” Now. Students last Thursday made a coura geous choice when they demonstrated out side of the UNCW Board of Trustees meet ing with signs that communicated various messages surrounding tuition and our right to be included in the process. This demonstration of student voices was one of the first of its kind on this cam pus that sent a message about our needs, not only to the trustees to keep tuition low and the administration to include us, but our signs also read “GA (General Assem bly), no way” and “Higher Education needs more money.” We realize the prob lem stems from the NC legislature’s de cline in funding for higher education, but that problem has other solutions, like our generation actually voting more and elect ing candidates that put more money into education than prison building. “I have a dream” that the foundation for student inclusion in the tuition process has been laid here at UNCW and that the stu- . dent demonstration was the clima>( of our Student fee increase understandable, but unfairly decided Most students will agree that $316 is a lot of money . . . especially when it is tacked onto the already expensive price of a college education under the guise of student fees. It’s enough to make your wallet want to commit sui cide. The Board of Trustees voted last week to increase student fees by $316, and Chancellor James Lcutze hints at an increase in parking fees as well. The money is set to go to several projects including University Union expansion, technology enhancement and more visible needs such as reno vation and maintenance in Wagoner Hall and the dorms. These may be fund-worthy projects, but it is so easy to come up with reasons why the fee increase is excessive—the main one being that most students simply can’t afford it. The protest group that met outside Madeline Suite last Thursday was not, however, arguing about the hike in stu dent fees, but rather how they were passed. The group, led by SGA presi dent Adrien Lopez and Senior Class! President Les Stewart argued a good! point. The students had virtually noj voice in the amount of money they’d I be dishing up next year or in how itl would be spent. The students are clearly left out of I the decision process where money is! concerned, and Leutze confirmed this I fact by saying that they never were the deciding body anyway. Shouldn’t we have a say in how scary UNCW’s price tag gets or even how that money is spent? Leutze’s appearance at the protest! with a sign reading “I oppose the tu- j ition increa$e too. But. . .” was cute—i admirable’even—and his point was! well-taken, but that wasn’t really the point we were trying to make. It’s more along the lines of one of the protester’s chants: “we want a say in what we pay.” frustrations. Protests are usually done af ter other options have been exhausted, but I believe the future will bring fewer dem onstrations and more cooperative efforts between students and the administration if we continue to demand more inclusion in the decision-making process from our uni versity leaders. And hopefully they will realize the valuable contributions that stu dents bring to the table, if informed and given a chance to learn about these “com plex” areas and decisions. Student perspectives absent from the process means the process is not complete because this university ultimately func tions when students pay the higher tuition and fees in good faith that it will be used to enhance the educational process. Maybe someday the state will follow through on its obligations to higher education, but if it doesn’t and our university leaders again face major choices about price increases, hopefully their first thought will be “what do the students think?” Adrien Lopez Student Body President SEAHAm CONTACT mFQRMATlQN; EDITOR: 910-962-3229 / olitoreilieseahawk.ofi NEWS 910-962-7259 / iiewsetfaeseahawk.or| FEAWKES 9I0-962-7239 / fc«iiresetbescah>v>k.oij SFORTS: 910-962-7148 / sporaediea^wLixi AKTS ENTEKTAINMENT. 910-962-7148 / ametheseih.wk.ori FAX: 910-%2-7131 iiBc »the Seahawk. 601 S. Collefe Road, UU205a WUminjlon, NC 28403 Dear Editor, schools. I think it’s time to reevaluate tl Why is it that UNCW police are that bored? things, and think WHY the univereity e: Tuition increases (and) parking fines totaling hun- the first place, dreds of thousands of dollars a year go to pay the salaries of UNCW finest Then why is it that a Ryan Hohman UNCW officer has nothing better to do than to Sophomore ticket students sitting in their cars waiting for a space be fore class? I know this may seem petty, but it’s just one thing that adds to the increas ing frustration of our paridng problems, as well as proposed tuition increases. Do we need the amount of campus law en forcement that we have when a police officer finds the need to ticket a student for simply WAITING for an open space? How else are you sup posed to park when a lot is full? Drive around repeat edly? Cause more of a haz ard than sitting still patiently? UNCW wonders why our re tention rate is not that of other
University of North Carolina Wilmington Student Newspaper
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Jan. 24, 2002, edition 1
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