Spring Break
State legislator addresses tuition raises with students
Katherine Smith
Issue date: 3/18/09 Section: News
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The program opened with Merrill attempting to communicate to the attendees the expansive breadth of the economic issues facing the university and how the state legislature has attempted to deal with them. Merrill, who has been a state representative for the past 17 years, wasted no in time expressing her discontent with how Gov. M. Jodi Rell has handled a rapidly dwindling state revenue that has led to a significant increase in deficit spending in the state.
"The governor is not as attached to UConn as previous governors have been," Merrill said.
She explained that, while a higher tuition increase would save many programs here at the university, Rell has adamantly promoted a policy that would include no tuition increases, but rather a tremendous cut in the amount of funding for programming.
"If you don't increase tuition, programs have to be cut, it's just that simple," Merrill said.
Merrill went on to say that decision-making toward the state's higher education budget has been "deeply political" and strongly motivated by an attempt to "put pressure on unions." Merrill explained that, in order for progress to be made, "politicking must end" and different groups must "work together."
Merrill also took questions from the audience ranging from the marijuana decriminalization bill to why young Connecticut professionals should be inclined to stay in the state.
Seamus Keating and Samuel Greenberg, both members of USG's External Affairs Committee, worked together to bring Merrill to campus.
"[The goal was so that Merrill] knew how students felt about the tuition increase and budget cuts and that students were available," explained Keating, the External Affairs chair. "It was hard to get the word out, but I was very pleased with the turnout. Hopefully [Merrill] will be able to bring back our sentiments."
In the plan for the 2009-2010 academic year that Merrill discussed, tuition would increase by a mere 6 percent. Because of the small increase, class sizes are predicted to swell, and $11.4 million worth of program funding will have to be eliminated to accommodate budget cuts and the university's deficit. A displeased President Hogan also predicted the student to faculty ratio will further deteriorate from the current 17:1, which only a decade ago was 14:1. As the university enters the next academic year, leaders anticipate that 160 jobs will be cut as well. Other changes predicted were shorter hours at student facilities, such as the library or recreation center.
"I will do everything I can to preserve the University of Connecticut, which I think is one of the state's biggest assets," Merrill reassured students in closing.
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