Tuition Increase Causes Struggle for Future UVa Students [Revised]

Tuition Increase Causes Struggle for Future UVa Students

As reported by the Daily Progress, The University of Virginia recently decided to raise their tuition for both in-state and out of state students. In-states student tuition has raised by $486 or 4.7 percent, while out of state tuition has been raise by $2268 or 6.2 percent (UVa board approves tuition increase). This puts a strain on current and future UVa students that are also struggling monetarily. Even to the middle class, the amount needed to pay for tuition puts them at a disadvantage. With the amount needed to sustain a household of four, sending even one of their kids to college causes financial struggles for years to come. The options are very limited to what they can do; taking out a loan and joining the military seem to be the only two solid options. Applying for scholarships are also an option, but those are unsure and others are constantly applying for them, minimizing the availability of money.

Not only is this a problem at UVa, but a problem at all colleges. Average people who want to achieve higher education have a harder time getting into any school because of their finances. Around the United States, the economy has made it harder for normal people to earn the money needed to send their children to higher education, which continues the cycle of the poor staying poor. To fix this problem, the cost of living wage should be raised, especially in the city of Charlottesville.

The reason why minimum wage should be raised is mainly because not only is getting into college a financial struggle, but sustaining a stable household is difficult as well. An article by the Huffington Post states that if Minimum wage was to keep up with worker productivity, it would be at least $21 in 2012(Minimum Wage Would Be $21.72 If It Kept Pace With Increases In Productivity: Study). Some states refuse to increase the minimum wage because they believe that it will hurt business. I believe it will be quite the opposite, with the increase of minimum wage, people will be encouraged to buy more and shop to support businesses. That could also help the economy in the long run, essentially giving the government a hand in ending the deficit.

Earlier in the year, Obama proposed that the cost of minimum wage should be raised to ten or more dollars, but so far the issue has been left up to states. Currently, the minimum wage in Virginia is $7.25 per hour; barely enough to sustain a household of two. I believe to help with the issue, Virginia should raise the minimum wage to at least $11.11 per hour. Not only to assist with college cost for the next generation, but to help with daily problems that families go through. With the rise of minimum wage, families who have always wished to send their children to college may now have that chance.

Interview Questions

I am interviewing Paige Rice, the Clerk of Council.

1. First of all, what is a Clerk of Council and how is their job given to them?
2. What does a Clerk of Council do on a daily basis?
3. How did you get to this position?
4. What did you do in High school? College?
5. Do you have any other jobs pertaining to the Government? 
6. What do you think is the most important issue in Charlottesville right now? 
7. What do you think about the UVa tuition increase? (Or is that even in your jurisdiction?) 
8. Do you have and other fun facts? 

H13

(a) Explain how TWO measures taken by states prior to the 1960s affected voter turnout among African American citizens.

• Literacy tests were used to test African Americans before they voted to prevent them from actually voting. African Americans were unable to learn at a level of their white counterparts because it was illegal in the south to teach African Americans, especially during the Slavery area
• The Grandfather clause was used to prevent African Americans from voting as well. The Grandfather clause is when you do not have to take a literacy test if your grandfather had already voted prior to you. this was unfair to African Americans because their grandfathers were either uneducated, or slaves.

(b) Facing discrimination at the voting booth, many African Americans turned to alternative forms of political participation. Describe TWO alternative forms of participation that helped bring about changes in civil rights policies.

• African Americans turned to civil disobedience to send the message that discrimination was not okay. They used organized sit-ins, protests, and race riots to show that they were not going to be quiet about this issue.  
• The NAACP was created in response to the discrimination at the polls.  

(c) Choose ONE of the forms of participation you described above and explain why it was effective in changing civil rights policies. 

• The NAACP was created in 1909 for the advancement of African Americans. The NAACP was a voice for many African Americans to speak out against oppression at the polls. Their guidance for the African American community lasts even through today by speaking against people or corporations who are racist or oppressive against African Americans.