More than students protest tuition costs

Students weren't alone in protesting the high cost of tuition Wednesday in Windsor.

Teachers and union officials marched with post-secondary students who feel short-changed by the provincial government.

"I feel I have to support these students. They're sick and tired of paying high tuition," said Carol Davison, who teaches English courses at the University of Windsor. "We have a government that finds money for MPs' pensions and they can send you to war but they cant send you to university. Its outrageous."

She, and hundreds of students marched along the streets in the city's west end.

Most were upset because they were not included in the Liberal provincial government's tuition rebate plan, a popular campaign promise made during last fall's election.

Many studentssoon realized the 30 per cent tuition rebate is not applicable to everyone. Graduate students and those out of high school for more than four years, for example, are not eligible.

"We just think it should be across the board," said grad student Mike Gibbons.

Change 30% rebate to 13% reduction: students

Dino Chiodo, of the Windsor District Labour Council and member of CAW Local 444, warned that the devil's in the details of the rebate program. He then accused the government of catering to the province's "elite."

"I think every student has a right to an education. When you take into consideration what theyre fighting for, it's an education at a reasonable cost to them," Chiodo said.

Hilda Otieni of the Canadian Federation of Students wants the province to convert the 30 per cent rebate into a 13-per-cent tuition reduction across the board.

"Were asking them to reduce tuition fees for all students across the province," she said. "A lot of students are concerned. Although tuition fees are going up, theyre not seeing any help from the government."