Thera Wolven’s purpose in the audience at the Arizona House Appropriations Committee was not to address its members. As a graduate student, she doesn’t fall under the specifications for the new minimum tuition contribution. In fact, she said she doesn’t think it would affect her at all.
And yet, she couldn’t hold in her emotions after listening to the arguments for and against Arizona House Bill 2675, which passed through the House Appropriations Committee by only one vote Wednesday.
“For me, it was hard to hear them ask, ‘What investment are students making?’” Wolven said. “I work for the university, work hard in classes, and might need a second job because of a medical issue (that arose last week), and to say I don’t work hard?”
She took a moment to wipe her eyes. The social work and public administration graduate student chose to attend the committee session because it was required for one of her classes, and the bill about undergraduate tuition was most interesting to her.
“Going to these really makes you realize how important it is to get involved,” Wolven said, adding that Wednesday’s session was the first one she had been to.
Emotions were not only running high for Wolven, but nearly all those at the committee meeting, as legislators frequently interrupted, insulted and verbally pounced on one another, as well as the students addressing them. The discussion on HB 2675 lasted nearly two hours.
Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and primary sponsor of the bill, asked his fellow committee members to remain civil with the guest speakers after a number of questions from Rep. Michelle Ugenti, R-Scottsdale.
Following the heated discussion, during which a number of amendments to the bill were promised by Kavanagh, the committee voted 7-6 to approve the bill.
The bill as approved carried one of three proposed amendments. The amended bill would require undergraduate students attending any of the Arizona state universities to pay $2,000 for tuition, regardless of need-based scholarships, grants or other tuition benefits provided through the university or an affiliate of the university.
Federal Pell Grants cannot be used to cover the minimum contribution because they are distributed through the university, Kavanagh said. The contribution is aimed at making students take ownership of their education, he added, rather than allowing them to use money that “hasn’t been earned.”
In its current state, the bill has exemptions for students who are on athletic or academic scholarships, as well as students with a tuition waiver or tuition reimbursement from their employer. However, the number of exempt students cannot surpass 5 percent of enrolled students.
Kavanagh said he would allow for many concessions on the bill, including adjustments to account for students’ housing expenses and other factors that contribute to cost of attendance. However, two proposed amendments to the bill were not added before its approval — one was withdrawn and the other voted down in roll call.
The idea for the bill arose after state legislators were informed that 48 percent of in-state undergraduate students at Arizona State University pay no tuition, Kavanagh said. The figures, provided by the Arizona Board of Regents, were similar at the other state universities, he added.
Christine Thompson, ABOR vice president of government affairs, said the statistics for last year were “an anomaly.” She added that the unofficial count of Arizona university students who pay no tuition for this year is closer to 25 percent.
Before the vote occurred, students spoke on behalf of all three state universities, as well as the statewide organization Arizona Students’ Association.
“It terrifies me to hear the arguments that are being made, and I don’t believe many of the arguments are being fully thought out,” said Brianna Pantilione, who represented both Undergraduate Student Government at ASU and ASA.
During the discussion, legislators asked that exceptions be made for students who have to provide childcare or assistance to their families, as well as active-duty or honorably discharged military.
Rep. Justin Olson, R-Mesa, who said he originally planned to vote against the approval, was the deciding vote after the committee remained divided during roll call voting.
“I don’t think we should set a policy by the state that mandates an increase in the costs we’re expecting of our citizens to pay for a service that we’re already providing,” Olson said. “But … we need to address this concern of having one student subsidize another.”
Votes against the approval came from Reps. Steve Urie, Matt Heinz, Anna Tovar, Lela Alston, Vic Williams and Chad Campbell.
Campbell, a Democrat from Phoenix, provided the harshest criticisms of the bill, noting that the bill had no supporters listed for it while it had more than 100 people listed in opposition.
“Not a single person has been here in support of this bill,” he said. “The universities haven’t asked for it. The students haven’t asked for it. So I’m not sure who’s asking for this bill.”
Alston, also a Phoenix Democrat, said she was worried because it targets only need-based scholarship recipients.
“Those are the students who have the least, are struggling the most,” she said. “It disturbs me greatly, as you might be able to tell.”
Rep. John Fillmore, R-Apache Junction, said he hopes the bill will encourage students to achieve because they have “some skin in the game.”
Ugenti echoed his comments, using her own life story as a testament to the rewards of hard work.
“How much skin in the game should a student have to have?” she asked. “As much as it takes to get your college degree, as much as it takes to be as successful as you want to be, as much as it takes to get the job that you want.”
Despite the bill’s approval, opposing legislators said they believe students are invested in their education without an additional financial burden.
“I will work as hard as I need to achieve my goals, but I’m still worried about finances,” a teary Wolven said. “I’m stressed.”
Contact the reporter at mauro.whiteman@asu.edu
