The Board of Trustees approval of Metro’s lower tuition rate for undocumented students sparked debate and a variety of initial responses at Auraria.
“I think it’s a positive step, because it’s going to contribute to our community in general [by] allowing people to better their education,” said Stephanie Campbell, a continuing senior at Metro.
“A lot of the people that are benefiting from this are not coming at age 22 from Mexico, or any other country, to here. They grew up here, so they should really have the benefit of college education like any of the other students that grew up here.”
Other students, like business management major, Bradford Adragna, oppose the move.
“I don’t agree with it,” said Adragna, a Metro senior. “The regular, desired students don’t quite have that same advantage as students that aren’t from the U.S. I just think that concept’s a little weird. We go to any other country, they don’t treat us like that.”
However, for others, the proposed tuition rate has raised questions and concerns about the state of education funding in general.
“I don’t really understand [the different tuition levels] to be honest. I think everybody should have help for education — in-state, out-of-state, illegal alien, whatever it may be — because it’s something that’s important,” said Jaime Reis, a Metro sophomore. “I am actually paying out-of-state tuition, so I wish I could get a fifty percent decrease.”
Christy Wilt, a Metro junior, agrees with the need for aid for undocumented students, but still said she understands why there has been so much discord.
“I am all for the underprivileged getting an opportunity for education,” said Wilt. “Granted, I would love a 50 percent decrease in my tuition as well, so I can see why people say it’s unfair. I feel like there should be more help for education all around in the United States.”
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