Students will have the chance to take their tuition concerns to the provincial government later this month alongside the Students’ Union.
The “Legislate This! March to the Legislature” unites students of the universities of Calgary, Alberta and Lethbridge against proposed tuition hikes to professional programs and large compulsory fees next year.
“It is our hope that this march will raise awareness, show solidarity and affect the government’s decision when it comes to the cost of our post-secondary education,” said Kay She, SU vice-president external. To She’s knowledge the U of C SU has never attempted a protest activity which involved sending students from Calgary to the Legislature.
The SU has organized a bus, in conjunction with the University of Lethbridge, to pick up students Thursday, March 18 at 9 a.m. on a roundtrip to Edmonton. Students will meet at the U of A and march to the Alberta Legislature, before leaving at 4 p.m. Currently the shared bus has room for 30 U of C students, though She says that if the demand is there a second bus will be chartered. As of print, 51 students had already signed up on the SU Facebook event.
“It would be absolutely fantastic if we saw such a demand from students willing to support something like this,” said She.
The SU also hopes that the protest inspires students to get creative. At the event She and SU president Charlotte Kingston will be judging the best protest sign made by a student with a $500 (the same amount as the proposed per-student mandatory fee increase) prize going to the winner.
Students interested in taking the trip are asked to e-mail She at suvpext@ucalgary.ca to confirm and fill out a waiver form.