PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Pitt Hikes Tuition
by Nathan Shaffer Saturday, Aug. 31, 2002 at 1:47 PM
nds6@pitt.edu

The University Of Pittsburgh Board Of Trustees raised tuition for the 2003 fiscal year with no visible student dialog despite a report of revenue increases in most areas.

PITTSBURGH - The University Of Pittsburgh Board Of Trustees raised tuition for the 2003 fiscal year with no visible student dialog despite a report of revenue increases in most areas.
Citing "difficult economic times in the Commonwealth and across the country," the board passed a 10% tuition increase for out of state students and a 14% increase for in state students at their meeting on Monday, July 15. The board also reported a 10% gain in revenues from research funded by outside sources.
Choosing to appropriate funds for "research infrastructure" and capital investment, the board gave no notice to a student action demanding responsible use of University funds.
These resolutions were passed without debate or audible dissent in a voice vote.
The Board of Trustees tacitly expressed a decidedly anti-student and anti-media position by denying students and several Independent Media representatives entry to the public meeting. Security representatives claimed that available seating had already been occupied and that standing was not permitted. Members of the corporate media easily gained access to the full meeting.
A single IMC reporter gained access to the meeting to find four empty seats in the public observation area and approximately twelve people standing for the duration of the meeting. The IMC reporter was the only University student in attendance.
Statements from apologetic security personnel laid blame on the trustees for the closed atmosphere of the meeting. One security officer explained, "I was not lying about the number of seats. That information came from inside the room. I did not make that decision."

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the reason they raised tuition...
by . Friday, Sep. 06, 2002 at 8:38 AM

...is the same reason PAT raised fares - Harrisburg froze their funding at FY2002 spending levels, despite promises of increases already put in the budget. While does suck, don't blame Pitt - call or write or elected officials. Oh wait, you kids don't believe in elections, or some crap like that.

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Did you read the article?
by Nathan Friday, Sep. 06, 2002 at 8:41 PM

Clearly this is not the reason for the tuition increase. It's clearly stated in the article that revenues from research actually increased this year by 10%. Plus, if you look into things at Pitt a little bit, you'll find that they recently fundraised $500 million, and plan to double it in less than a decade. Let's think about what a small percentage of those funds would cover the amount of the tuition increase.
Pitt's board has a long history of being hostile to students at the expense of their education. Board members have made it clear that education is priority number three, behind corporate research and "scholarship." I want to know why it's alright for student's tuition dollars to support all of this corporate research! Shouldn't it be the other way around!?

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state funding/tuition
by Greg Miaskiewicz Saturday, Sep. 07, 2002 at 10:26 PM
grm5@pitt.edu

In order to make up for the money they were expecting from the state, raising tuition 4% was what was necessary to make up the difference. The extra 10% is unjustifiable.

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