Syracuse University students will have the chance to question the chancellor this afternoon during a open forum.

Maxwell Auditorium will host Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw’s University Senate forum, held each semester, at 4:15 p.m.

Without a main topic, though, many students might not attend, said Colin Seale, president of the Student Association.

‘If a big event had happened this past weekend, more people would probably show,’ Seale said. ‘But, it is always hard to tell: sometimes 40 students will show up, sometimes 100 will show, sometimes only 10.’

Without a dominant topic, various smaller issues might arise, Seale said. The university’s 6 percent tuition hike, off-campus safety, the new guest policy, racial diversity and parking troubles are topics that might be mentioned during the forum, he said.

‘Hopefully, he will have a lot of his staff present so that they can answer a lot of different questions,’ Seale said. ‘If there are a lot of questions he can’t personally answer at the meeting, he might be seen as dismissive.’

Next year’s tuition increase will likely be one of the primary topics of discussion. Sophomore architecture major Tim Sweeney is one of many students concerned with the increase.

‘I think the tuition hike is somewhat unfounded,’ he said. ‘I am disappointed that while tuition has gone up the past two years, academic scholarships have remained at the same level.’

Sweeney, a recipient of the $10,000 Founders’ Scholarship, said he is only able to attend SU through the school’s financial aid and outside loans. The fact that his scholarship has less impact on his tuition bill each year is disappointing, he said.

As disturbing as the tuition hike may be, the proposed hike in associated costs is even worse, Sweeney said.

‘They are drastically increasing housing costs next year,’ he said. ‘Where is this money going? Taxes haven’t gone up that much, so they aren’t going to pay those. There are no new dorms being built. So where is the money going? Why do they need to raise the cost of living? That should be independent of the rest of the university.’

Although he will be in studio during the forum, Sweeney said wishes he could discuss the cost-of-living issues with the chancellor.

‘I just think that SU has enough pull within this city to work out a deal with Verizon and Time Warner to get a deal for coverage for all the students,’ he said. ‘Most other schools don’t charge students for cable, telephone, or laundry, but yet we pay outrageous prices for all three.’

Phil Georgakopoulos, a sophomore civil engineering major, is unhappy with the tuition increases, he said.

He said he knows that the university’s academic plan compares SU to prestigious colleges around the nation, but he does not think the comparisons are fair.

‘Obviously, I don’t like the tuition hike,’ he said. ‘This is a great school. I am very happy with my college, but I know it’s not close to an Ivy League school. We are not like them.’

Though a contingent from SA will attend the forum, they will not bring a specific agenda because Seale met with Shaw last week and discussed pressing issues, Seale said.

‘A lot of students from SA will be there just to have a presence, just to stay in the forefront of the student’s minds,’ Seale said.

He urged regular students, however, to participate as well.

‘Even if somebody doesn’t think that their concern is a big issue, they should come.” he said. “It might be something that can be done on this campus.’

Published on February 26, 2002 at 12:00 pm