Student Senate supports tuition cap

by Erica Ryan
Staff Writer

Ohio University's Student Senate adopted a resolution at last night's meeting to oppose the deregulation of tuition caps for public universities.

The action stemmed from the OU Board of Trustees' decision Friday to create a resolution to support lifting the cap that prohibits Ohio public colleges from raising tuition by more than 6 percent each year.

"It is critical for the future success of Ohio University and any university in the state of Ohio that the tuition cap stay where it is," said Senator-at-large Mike Waterhouse, who co-sponsored the resolution.

The senate's tuition cap resolution came under fire by some senators, who said a lack of funding could lower the quality of education OU offers.

Senator-at-large Kevin Rosenberg said he would pay more for tuition if it meant improved education. Deregulating the cap would not necessarily mean tuition would be raised.

"This is insurance in case OU loses funding," Rosenberg said.

Removing the cap would benefit OU because of supply and demand, according to the resolution.

"It's a good business decision for OU because the demand is there, but that's not a good reason to do it," University Life Commissioner Heather Wakefield said.

Senate also adopted a resolution supporting a group of universities and organizations that oppose the drug conviction question on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The Higher Education Act of 1998 contains provisions that disqualify students convicted of drug violations from receiving financial aid. More than 7,500 students in the United States lost at least some of their aid this semester, according to the resolution.

The act singles out prospective students convicted of drug violations and ignores offenses such as violent crimes, said Luke Ellwood, off-campus housing commissioner.

It also targets low-income earners, who are more likely to be convicted, he said.

OU's Student Senate now will join more than 35 other student governments, as well as the United States Student Association, in the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform, Senate President Jim Hintz said.

Senate also adopted a resolution opposing the adoption of new landscaping regulations proposed by Athens City Council.

The ordinance would require areas of 7,000 square feet or more, including residential off-street parking, to provide interior landscaped areas, Waterhouse said.

The new regulations would take up parking space.