Since the start of this school year, our student government has continued to frustrate me.
While I commend their efforts to bring to light important issues to students, especially rising student debt, I highly encourage them to be more realistic in their demands. I get it: the cost of college continues to rise and an increased burden has been placed on students and their families to finance such an education.
I’m in the same boat.
I agree that students deserve to be paid higher wages, however, raising student worker wages to $15 is outlandish. Just where do you think that money will come from to nearly double student hourly rates? If such an increase in student pay is not matched with a revenue increase, guess what: I can almost guarantee that our tuition will increase (something I know you are all against). I hate to break it to you, but a good number of college graduates will be happy to make $15/hour after graduation.
Let’s start with President Obama’s suggestion of raising minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. This seems like a much more realistic demand. While it is frustrating to watch administrators receive pay raises and to watch tuition increase, I think you are getting mad at the wrong people. Ask any educator why they went into the profession, and I highly doubt they will tell you it was for the money.
If you want to be mad at anyone, get frustrated with the state government that over the last several years has cut funding for higher education. Don’t get mad at the administrators who work to raise money to support and expand the academic mission of Ohio University.
I have to say that I am very impressed that OU has managed to raise over $450 million in private monies through The Promise Lives campaign 14 months ahead of schedule. This money ultimately benefits us as students with more scholarships, better professors, and expanded academic programs.
OU is slowly, yet surely, working to expand scholarships for students. This past year, I unexpectedly received a small additional scholarship. While it was not much money ($156 if I’m not mistaken), this did cover the tuition increase from the past year. I can’t complain about that.
If you want to get mad, be mad at the fact that this university places athletics as a higher priority than academics (as reflected in coaches pay), and moreover, be mad that in the United States, collegiate sports are a large reason why tuition increases as many universities spend a lot of money on athletics. I agree with you on this. However, I encourage you to reconsider your demands and expectations and do not forget the fact that educators and administrators work tirelessly so that you and I as students have the opportunity to receive a quality education with a promising future.
Ian Slifcak is a junior at Ohio University studying political science and Spanish.
