On May 14th, in the midst of a global pandemic and economic recession, USC announced a 3.5% tuition increase ($2000) while the vast majority of classes will be conducted online. In short, the university is demanding a higher price for a diminished educational experience at a time when the student body is least equipped to pay it. 

Financial aid packages for students are also being slashed. As a result, many students will be unable to afford attending school even remotely, setting back careers and further indebting families, specifically low income students who have been hit the hardest by this pandemic. Multiple students have stated that upon calling the financial aid office, USC confirmed that living at home would increase expected contributions from students.

Simultaneously, employee benefits are being cut. As an organization and a student body, we are curious to see if salaries of USC’s highest paid administrators are being proportionally decreased. Similarly, how have the budgets for sports and other facilities been impacted, especially when the semester has gone online and sports may not even be possible this year?

We are not unsympathetic to the university’s plight—like almost all institutions, they have been dealt a huge financial blow. However, it is not acceptable to turn to the student body or staff as a means of trying to recover. As a place of education, USC’s primary obligation is to its students. At this time of crisis, all other functions of the university are expendable. To give students and staff confidence that their well-being is prioritized, we are calling for budget-cut transparency, to allow all to see where money is being allocated. Currently, we are completely unaware of where this tuition increase is going and what cuts are being made in addition to financial aid.