UNB and STU students remove premier's message

Instead of the annual premier's message, student agendas at two New Brunswick universities will contain information about how students feel the government's actions have been againsttheir interests.

Students at the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University say they are sendinga message to Premier David Alward. Theysayit's harder to get a student loan because funding allocation is tied toparents' income.

During the March 2011 budget,Finance Minister Blaine Higgs announced the provincial government would save $1.6 million annually byreinstating the parental contribution policyin student loan assessments.

That met with criticism from students who claim financial independence from their parents.

'We have the second highest tuition on average in Canada, yet this government continues to raise the cost of attending university, It is only a matter of time before students start pushnig back.'Adam Melanson, VP external for UNB student union

"The Provincial Governments' policies and actionssuch as reinstating Parental contributions,cutting down on grants, and under funding our universitymake it appear as though they haveno interest in what's good for the young people in this province" said Fin Mackay-Boyce, VicePresident Administration for the STU Student Union, in a released statement.

Students are also speaking out, blaming the province'sunderfunding for recent tuition hikes.Students say they want to be included in ongoing negotiations with the government for a longer-term tuition and funding plan.

Both STU and UNB have undergone $375 intuition increases in recent years, according to the released statement regarding omitting the premier's message.

"Although all universities are strained for funding, STU is especiallyunderfunded by the provincial government, receiving only 78% of the provincial average," the statement read.

New Brunswick university presidents are currently negotiating a tuition and fundingschedule with government to increase tuition over the next four years.

The statement also points out thatstudents, thelargest group of stakeholders, are being excluded from these talks.

In the statement Adam Melanson, VP external for the UNB student union says the lack of accessibility to student loans forces students to work more, affecting their grades.

"We have the second highest tuition on average in Canada, yet this government continues to raisethe cost of attending university. It is only a matter of time before students start pushing back," said Melanson.