By Sarah Mcsparin
Student Government Association President Brian Hoffman grabbed student’s attention at the second annual State of the Student Body Address last Tuesday with strong words about tuition, campus services and student health issues.
“These issues, though they may not be the most attractive items on the university’s agenda, they must be among its most important,” Hoffman, a senior political science and economics major, said.
“These topics often lose out to the big money winners such as research, but I, as your representative, am resolved to giving these issues equal credence.”
The speech, held in Bigelow Hall, saw more than 50 students in attendance.
Hoffman spoke of SGA’s continued dedication to giving the students a voice to administration.
“It is crucial that administrators include students and their representatives at every step of the growing process. These processes include consultation over long-term planning, campus services, student fees and more.”
The student health fee that was implemented last year has been reworked after talks between SGA and administration, Hoffman said.
However, student health issues remain unresolved as U of L administration continues talks of constructing the new student health building a mile away from the Belknap campus, a move many students object to.
“It just makes logical sense to put the building on-campus,” freshman chemistry major Anna Tarantino said. “From what Hoffman said tonight it sounds as if SGA is being very pro-active about this issue.”
Hoffman assured students that SGA would refuse to back down to the administration’s desire for the new location.
“U of L must know that SGA stands firm in its pledge that it will not support any proposal for a non-centralized location to construct the new Campus Health Building,” Hoffman said.
As tuition continues to rise, SGA is also challenging the administration to make tuition affordable for all students. Hoffman said that U of L must stop forcing students to make up the difference when the state government fails to provide the money the university requested.
“At what point will U of L say enough is enough?” Hoffman asked. “At what point will we stop funding this research mission on the backs of students?”
The small crowd of students in the audience agreed and applauded Hoffman’s stance on rising tuition.
“The issue of research trumping student interest is a recently emerging issue,” former SGA President Darrell Messer, a graduate student, said. “It does pose the greatest excuse to set aside the long term interests of students.”
With the student population continually on the rise, U of L is in need of increasing services and updated buildings, Hoffman said.
Even with the many problems that Hoffman stated, he also acknowledged the successes.
From being the most diverse university in the state of Kentucky to having the most Fulbright scholars, U of L is continually improving, Hoffman said.
“There has never been a better time to be a student at the University of Louisville,” Hoffman said.
He added that students should work to involve themselves in every stage of the university’s decisions. “?Growth, great as it can be, cannot happen properly without the consent and direction of the students.”
