College students in Ohio currently graduate with nearly $28,000 in student loans, which ranks seventh highest in the United States. In addition to incurring large debts to attend college, graduates also now face a job market where average starting salaries have declined for six straight years.
At Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, students are taking on even more debt than both the state and national average. According to the Project On Student Debt, for the year 2010, 77% of Kent State graduates took out student loans. Even worse, the average debt upon graduation was $28,186! Looking for a reason for this? Just look at the rising tuition and fees. Since 2003, tuition and fees have increased by 46%. Additionally, KSU students have recently been informed that they will also be charged $440 per each credit hour over 16. Such a plan will only force more students to incur more debt and extend the estimated date of graduation for many. After researching other schools in Ohio that also do this, only the University of Toledo, Youngstown State, and University of Akron mention capping students at 16 credit hours, while all others cap at 18 or more.
In an effort to raise awareness about these excessive tuition hikes and fees, the KSU Young Democratic Socialists (YDS) are organizing with other students. Students organizing around this topic have creatively utilized social media to connect with others on campus. They have also organized digitally to stand in solidarity with students organizing at other campuses in the state.
Today KSU students plan to demonstrate in Risman Plaza and will be tweeting using the hashtag #RAISEHELL and #NoTo16. The “RAISEHELL” hashtag is in reference to the slogan “raise hell, not tuition” which is being used at other student demonstrations across the country this week. Students far and wide are encouraged to stand in solidarity with KSU today and tweet using the hashtags, #RaiseHell and #NoTo16.
The demonstration will be followed by an information session about the student debt crisis with an organizer from StrikeDebt.org which be held on campus at 7PM in room 306 of the Student Center. This is a free event and open to the public.
To #RaiseHell and show your solidarity with Kent State University students organizing against tuition hikes, click HERE.
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