[van-announce] Anti-Tuition Vigil - Feb 16th - All Welcome

[Desmond]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		                           
February 13th, 2004


Kwantlen Students Plan Vigil
Students to brave the cold night waiting for Gary
Collins’ Budget Speech
	
SURREY BC – Elected officials at the Kwantlen
University College Student Association are waiting
with anticipation for Tuesday’s Budget Speech.  After
two years of skyrocketing tuition fees (138% increase
in the last 24 months at Kwantlen), students are
hoping for some form of relief in next week’s
provincial Budget.

To show their conviction, elected members of the
student council will be holding all night vigils on
each of the four Kwantlen campuses Monday night,
February 16th 2004.  To demonstrate the repressive
burden of the current tuition fees, one student per
campus will chain themselves physically to the campus,
and hope that Gordon Campbell’s government will “free
them from the financial burden."

“A recent poll showed that 87% of Kwantlen students
are experiencing financial hardship because of the
recent hikes in tuition,” said Laura Anderson, KSA
Chairperson, “Tuition fees are a real and significant
barrier to education – a barrier that fewer and fewer
people are going to be able manage.”

On February 10th 2004, the government’s throne speech
confirmed that there’ll be budgetary increases over
the next three years to BC’s post secondary
institutions – but failed to offer any specific hope
that this will translate into relief for students
struggling under today’s massive tuition fees.  The
KSA is hoping that the Budget speech address this
issue.

Other students, educational allies and members of the
community are welcome to come visit the ‘all-night
vigil’, and further details concerning refreshments
and activities will be released shortly.

-   30   -

The Kwantlen University College Student Association
represents over
27,000 students enrolled at four lower-mainland
campuses, and is local 26 of the
Canadian Federation of Students.

For more information please contact:

Laura Anderson, KSA Chairperson and Director of
External Affairs 
Cell: (604) 613-1058
or
Desmond Rodenbour, KSA Media Liaison
Cell: (604) 512-4487



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_____________________________________
Desmond Rodenbour
p:   (604) 512-4487 
f:    (604) 739-4487
e:  desmondrodenbour at yahoo.ca

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