News
Student Group Protests Board of Trustees Meeting
< < Back toThe Ohio University Student Union sat outside and picketed the Ohio University Board of Trustees meeting Friday morning for many reasons.
At the forefront of discussions both outside and inside the regular board meeting was rising tuition costs.
“We have no real say in anything that they’re doing,” Ohio University student activist Bobby Walker said. “Why the hell are we paying this much money?”
This summer, Governor John Kasich signed House Bill 64 into effect. This challenged all universities in Ohio to reduce tuition costs by 5 percent. This comes as the Senate has also challenged universities to the five percent reduction.
The board had also talked about what students could do to shrink costs and reduce debt in a Joint Academic and Resources Committee meeting the day before the regular meeting. In it, some trustees said students have choices when it comes to following a path to graduation, or paying additional costs, such as study-abroad programs, which extends their stay.
President Roderick McDavis believes students’ ties to the Athens community keeps them here longer than is academically needed.
“Students come to Athens because we are a residential campus. We’re located in a great place. This is a great community. Students want to spend four years getting an education in our community,” McDavis said Friday after the meeting.
The Board of Trustees recommended a plan to filter students through OU by completing their majors in three years.
McDavis said this is not a requirement for students, but he does want more students to take a three-year track to graduation.