When colonists felt like they were being charged an unfair amount of money without representation in their governing body, a revolution occurred and a new country was formed.
At Fairfield, a Stag-inspired uprising may soon be justified as the 4,008 undergraduates watch helplessly as tuition rates continue to rise.
The tuition rate is determined by the University’s board of trustees, which is comprised of 39 members including alumni, reverends and former employees of prominent national companies. This year, the University instituted a $1,890 increase on tuition and a $450 increase in room and board costs.
“Our Board of Trustees maintains legal and fiduciary responsibility of the University. They establish institutional objectives and priorities,” said professor Irene Mulvey, secretary of the general faculty.
“At many universities, there are student representatives on the Board of Trustees; I am not aware of any such student representation at Fairfield,” said Mulvey.
The Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group, which is currently looking into this matter, is referring to the rising tuition costs for students as “taxation without representation.” Spokesman for the organization Chris Arsenault said in a Canadian Press article, “Tuitions have doubled over the past 15 years. This makes students the main financiers of universities.”
The Fairfield University Student Association (FUSA) is charged with the duty of becoming a liaison between students and the administration that governs them. According to the organization’s Web site, “FUSA is responsible for representing and advocating student opinions, issues, needs and concerns.”
“FUSA appoints one candidate as the student representative to the University Budget Committee. Junior Kevin Love was selected after an intense selection process,” said FUSA President Hutch Williams ’08.
“I think if the student body had more voices then it would be more beneficial to them,” he said.
Students, such as Chaya Lee ’10, are concerned about exactly where their tuition money is spent.
“I’m not sure where the money is going. I think it’s going towards things like professors and food costs, but I’m not too sure,” she said.
Irene Mulvey added that the students are not the only ones without influence in Board of Trustee meetings.
“There is a faculty committee that meets three or four times a year with the Academic Affairs Subcommittee of the Board of Trustees, but the faculty does not have representation on the full Board or on any Board committees,” she said.
Jen Haskell ’11 said she is dissatisfied with the use of campus funds, especially toward the Athletic Department.
“There should be more facilities for club sports teams. They are heavily advertised on the Web site, but not much field time or facilities are given to them,” she said.
Some students, such as Jimmy Fitzgerald ’10 said the University is doing an adequate job allocating funds.
“Our dorms are fine, there are a lot of things to do on campus, and the academic facilities are very good.”
Williams acknowledged the mixed concerns of students.
“It’s hit or miss with student opinions. Some students feel the money is being put to good use, while others feel it can be put toward something better,” he said.
It is true that students have varying opinions about the allocation of their tuition, some think there are plenty of events and activities on campus, while most others feel the school could be spending tuition money much more effectively.
Disgruntled engineering student Phil Spada ’10 said the engineering program is in need of additional funds.
“For all the money we pay to go here, McAuliffe Hall could use improvement,” he said. “When I wanted to print something up there, I was asked to bring my own paper. It was ridiculous.”
However, students are not the only ones who hold University funding in question.
After the School of Engineering was reaccredited last year, Dean of the School of Engineering Evangelos Hadjimichael said, “[The School of Engineering] could use newer facilities and some more new equipment.”
Williams added, “A lot of money is kept on University upkeep. Students don’t see it because there’s no new projects. [To them] it doesn’t seem like money is going anywhere.”
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