Students nationwide react to reductions in state funding; Southern Methodist University sees no backlash

by Staff of The Daily Mustang

DALLAS — On September 24, thousands of students, faculty, and staff members from the 10 University of California campuses protested against the proposed state budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. According to an article by The New York Times, the budget cut state funding for schools by about 20%, or $637.1 million. The current budget is now $2.6 million.

On the day of the protest, an online walkout petition was signed by 1,221 of the 19,000 faculty members statewide and a union representing more than 11,000 university professional and technical staff members supported the protest and called a one-day strike. The article reported that professors were even canceling class to participate in the protest.

Reductions in state funding means less pay for teachers, but also less state cushion for student tuition. The article reported that University of California schools increased their tuition by 32%, making the total for one semester $8,870.

Just this semester at Southern Methodist University, administrators implemented a tuition increase of equal proportion. According to the Admissions page on their website, cost per credit hour increased from $411 to $435 and cost per three-hour course jumped from $1,233 to $1,305. The average student at SMU now pays about $16,000 per semester, double what UC schools attendees pay.

However, the campus didn’t experience indignant students and staff members with picket signs on the main quad. There were no protests or strikes. There doesn’t seem to be recognition of the subject on campus at all. Why could this be?

In comparison to any University of California, SMU is a private school. The administration has the power to do “what’s best for the university” without consent from any other parties, except wealthy contributors. Another difference is that, because SMU is a private school, many of the students don’t pay their own tuition, their parents do. So coincidentally, they may never see the bill or the difference in tuition from year to year.

Location is another key factor that plays into each school’s reaction to financial changes. Berkley, for instance, is a predominantly liberal school situated outside San Francisco, arguably the liberal capital of the country. SMU is not only located in Texas, a notably conservative state, but also has a strong conservative presence in the student body. During the 2008 presidential elections, many students were seen tearing down Obama posters and sporting red elephant pins.

Whatever the reason, it's no excuse for students to passively accept what the university throws at them (and their parents). Students at University of California, in all 10 cities, stood up for what they thought what injustice. But maybe the difference is simply relative. Maybe saving money just isn’t all that important to students at SMU.