York University students have been camping out for the past ten days in protest of tuition fees. PHOTO BY JEANETTE LIU
Jeanette Liu
Political Reporter
Humber’s student government did not join York University’s Federation of Students 10-day protest which culminated in a march held yesterday objecting to rising tuition fees and the 30 per cent grant.
The Ontario government’s promise of a tuition rebate is “a policy that’s put in place by the provincial government to help students in need,” said Bryan Tran, president of the Humber Students’ Federation. “To have an issue with something that is already helping students is silly.”
The grant is intended to help high school students entering post-secondary studies for their first time, offering students 30 per cent off of their tuition – but it has its limitations.
“About two-thirds of all Ontario post secondary students are not eligible,” said Alastair Woods, the vice-president of campaigns and advocacy for York Federation of Students. “There’s a huge laundry list of students who won’t get it.”
To be eligible for the grant, students must be enrolled full time at a public college or university in Ontario, have graduated high school no more than four years ago, be in an undergraduate program, and come from a family where their parents’ income is less than $160,000.
International students, graduate students, students in professional programs like law and medicine, mature and part-time students are all ineligible for the grant.
“The idea that high tuition fees are just students complaining that they don’t want to pay ‘x’ amount of money is unfair,” said Woods. “It’s blaming the victim.”
HSF’s stance drew criticism from some members of the student community.
“If the majority of students want to oppose the government here, then HSF should go there and help,” said Anuveer Singh Parnar, a first-year post-graduate student studying project management, in advance of yesterday’s event. “Humber should be a part of the protest.”
Woods said the protest was open to anyone.
“The invitation is always open to any student from any school, or any community member who wants to support students,” he said. “The more the merrier. We are all in this together.”