By Sarah Mcsparin

The rising cost of tuition will be the most important issue of tonight’s Student Government Association Student Body Address, according to President Brian Hoffman.

“Today’s student should also be concerned about the University [of Louisville] keeping the welfare of students at the heart of all decisions,” Hoffman said.

The senior political science major also said that recent actions by the university have compromised that notion.

Tuition is expected to rise over six percent next year, after U of L’s funding request, which included a 5.5 percent increase that was rejected by the Council on Postsecondary Education earlier this month.

Tuition may go up as much as nine percent if full state funding is denied, according to U of L’s 12-year business plan.

Hoffman said his speech should provide a clear and official message to the University population. He also said that by attending, students can gain a better understanding of what U of L’s main issues are, “why they are important, and what they can do about it.”

Another issue likely to be tackled is the SGA’s Student Health petition. A Facebook group with nearly 300 members was created earlier this month to decry the lack of student health services on Belknap campus.

According to the petition, U of L’s purchase of a health building several blocks away from campus illustrates “a clear departure from the expressed opinion of the student body, as articulated by their student government.”

SGA will again attempt to engage students with tonight’s address, but will the student body listen? The student groups’ influence on issues like tuition increases have been called into question.

“If the SGA is the only way students can enact change, we have no choice but to try to work within the system,” said sophomore undecided major Crystal Embs.

“However, it seems to me that this system is inherently weak,” she said.