Rally fires up tuition freeze
by Jeanette Stewart & Ashley Martin
the Carillon

Among cheerleaders, balloons and picket signs, students worked up a frenzy over rising tuition fees.

The rally, held Wednesday, February 9, in the AdHum Pit, was part of the University of Regina Students’ Union’s (URSU) campaign to freeze tuition.

“The board passed a motion this summer to pursue this campaign,” said Leah Sharpe, URSU vice president of external affairs. Sharpe said URSU sent out an email asking for volunteers and informing students about plans for a rally. They also advertised a meeting on their website, and about 25 students attended.

Jeff Knieval, one of the key activists behind the rally, was one of the speakers. The megaphone-wielding Knieval led the students in energetic chants, such as, “Hey Calvert, freeze the fees; we don’t want no mac’n’cheese,” and, “Education is a right. We won’t quit without a fight.”

Billy Patterson was a central advertiser for the rally. The work of the scantily clad Arts student, who was “freezing for a freeze,” attracted some 300 students to the Pit, which, Sharpe said, “is pretty damn good for this university.”

“Right now we’re just trying to get attention,” Patterson said. “If we manage to get a tuition freeze, it’s kind of like a baby step in the right direction.”

Dr. George Maslany, from the faculty of Social Work, spoke on behalf of the U of R Faculty Association, the Canadian Association of University Teachers and the Saskatchewan Association of University Teachers. He pointed out the increase in tuition, specifically in the faculty of Arts, where, in the last two years, tuition has increased by 18 per cent.

“[Students] should have as much right to university education as they do in the other levels leading up to it,” Maslany said. Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) Ready for Work Coordinator, Nick Bonokoski, emphasized the fact that, for every low-income student attending university, there are 20 high-income students.

“Minimum wage isn’t going up and people need more education to get decent jobs. It’s a double whammy for young people,” he said.

SFL president Larry Hubich urged politicians to “put aside their partisan hats and figure out solutions to these problems.” “Let’s talk about what needs to be done,” Hubich said.

Student reaction varied, from extreme support to general apathy.

“I came because I saw cheerleaders,” said student Ryan Lawrence, who does not support a tuition freeze.

Rob Knippshio supports the cause, but said if students don’t show activism in other ways, like voting in election, they won’t create a change.

“I’m here with sick fascination to watch people bloody their skulls against the wall. I support the cause, don’t get me wrong, but this is all they are going to do, that’s it. Next election that comes around they’ll be too drunk or too high, or, ‘it’s too cold outside to [go] vote,’ and nothing’s ever going to happen.”

Some students feel a change is happening, and a rally is a good way to get government attention.

“I think they are aware of what’s going on, [but that] they weren’t invited is not necessarily a good thing,” said Arts student Kristy Wemp. “I think they should [have been invited].”

Sharpe disagreed.

“It was a student rally. It was not a rally for the university to come down and give their perspective. It was not a rally for the government to give their stance. We know the government stance. We didn’t need to have them come here and say [no]. We want to make sure they heard us and not the other way around.”