Rutgers’ Reacts to Tuition Increase

Rutgers’ Reacts to Tuition Increase

Rutgers’ students are outraged over the 1.7% increase in the upcoming 2016 academic school year. 

Tim Catalfamo, a senior at Rutgers University, is not angry over the tuition increase, but instead over the allocation of funds. 

“Tuition has gone up steadily the last couple of years, it has been constant, [but] it makes me wonder where all that money is going” states Catalfamo. 

He expressed that although tuition increases are necessary, he feels that Rutgers’ is obligated to use the money in order to advance and better his education and experience as a student. Catalfamo goes on to state that there are many things that need improvement such as more buses so that transportation becomes quicker. 

The issue of fund allocation is considered troublesome for many students. According to The Daily Targum, Mariah Wood, a student at Rutgers University, also believes that majority of the money goes towards construction projects that most students will not benefit from.

Students, like Sayeeda Rab and Mitul Patel, are angry over the tuition increase because they do not see improvement in important issues such as the quality of food in the dinning halls, but instead see the unnecessary display screen in The Yard.

Rutger students believe that if the tuition has to increase, then it has to be geared toward improving their education.

After Rutgers tragic loss to Michigan State University, 78 to nothing, several students lividly stated that, that was a clear indicator of the problem at Rutgers. Many funds go into Rutgers football and many other sports while conditions in the class room are in need of attention. 

“Why do we keep throwing our money at Rutgers football when I am sitting in a classroom where only half of the room has light” states Rab. 

Not only is the allocation of funds an issue, but many students coming from lower income families suffer a big hit as tuition increases. 

A junior majoring in Psychology, Lamar Nero, is concerned where or not he will be able to study in the upcoming 2016 spring semester due to the tuition increase. 

“I’m angry because I might not be able to study in the spring and that’s just terrible. Education should be made available to all despite your economic standing” says Nero. 

Many students like Nero, whose father was recently unemployed, would like Rutgers to make education more accessible to students from many economic backgrounds. 

Nero goes on to say, “the thing about tuition increases in general is that they force students to take out loans, and loans haunt you long after your college years are over” 

As tuition increases, students are faced with the harsh reality of paying off loans for years after graduation. Loans are worrisome because many students after college struggle with employment and find no way of paying off their loans.

The 1.7% tuition increase for the 2016 academic school year, has said to be the lowest increase in the last 5 years. 

Although it has been the lowest tuition increase, to say that this increase does not affect Rutgers students is wrong.