Baton Rouge: LSU Students Protest Tuition Increase

Baton Rouge: LSU Students Protest Tuition IncreaseBaton Rouge: LSU Students Protest Tuition Increase Hundreds of Louisiana State University (LSU) students gathered on campus on Tuesday to protest a proposed tuition increase of 2.5%. The tuition hike is part of a $795 million budget deficit that the university is facing. Students carried signs that read “Stop the Tuition Hike” and “Education Should Be Affordable.” They chanted slogans such as “We will not be silenced” and “Our futures are worth fighting for.” The tuition increase would raise the cost of attendance for in-state students by about $450 per year and for out-of-state students by about $1,200 per year. The increase would take effect in the fall of 2023. Students say that they are already struggling to afford tuition and that the increase would make it even more difficult for them to attend LSU. They also argue that the university should find other ways to cut costs, such as reducing administrative expenses. The university administration says that the tuition increase is necessary to cover the rising costs of operating the university. The administration also points out that LSU’s tuition is still lower than the average tuition at other public universities in the Southeastern Conference. The Board of Supervisors for the LSU System is scheduled to vote on the tuition increase on Wednesday. If the board approves the increase, it will be the first tuition increase at LSU in three years.