DARTMOUTH, MA (WBZ NewsRadio) – After the University of Massachusetts announces a 2.5% increase in tuition across all campuses, UMass Dartmouth students are pushing back.
More than 18,000 people have signed an online petition calling for a halt to the planned hike, citing the current state of inflation in addition to the ongoing financial pressure of the pandemic.
UMass Unions United Dartmouth coalition shows support for student push. Wendy Morrill leads the employee union group on campus.
“We don’t think, given the difficult economic times that everyone is going through right now, that now is a good time to do something like this,” Morrill said.
She says the employee coalition agrees with the students’ argument, saying their tuition should go towards better working, learning and living conditions, not the pockets of the leaders of the UMass.
“You talk about rundown dorms and spaces where they work and learn not to be up to par,” Morrill said. “They don’t get what they pay for.”
A rally will be held outside the State House on Monday, May 16 to continue to demand a tuition increase freeze.