To the Oakland University Community,

Recently, the Oakland Post reported that the Oakland University (OU) Board of Trustees voted to increase tuition by 4.2% for the next academic year. After a global pandemic that left many in financial distress and the cost of attendance at OU already being unaffordable, students will be paying hundreds more in tuition because of this increase. Meanwhile, student jobs, amenities, and resources that benefit everyone in the OU community continue to be underfunded, eliminated, and forgotten about. This cannot continue.

In addition, University Housing disclosed that they received $7.3 million in CARES funding from OU. In the past, the Oakland United Student Workers Coalition (OUSWC) has met with University Housing leadership several times to talk about reinstating and increasing funding to important programs, such as the Bear Bus and Academic Peer Mentors. In these meetings, OUSWC members were told that Housing generates its own revenue independently, separate from OU, and that it is under immense budget constraints. Budget limitations were always the reason given as to why essential services had to be eliminated; however, independence should not be used as an excuse to demolish important programs that employ student workers and that OU students use. 

It is abundantly clear that OU and University Housing have plenty of money to support and revitalize the programs students depend on. To start, OUSWC is advocating for the reinstatement of the Bear Bus, OU’s free transportation program that was eliminated amongst budget cuts in 2020. 

The Bear Bus was essential for students with physical disabilities, commuter students, international students, low-income students, and students without cars or licenses. Additionally, the Bear Bus was important for OU’s sustainability efforts and provided a great chance for student employment. The elimination of the Bear Bus is an equal access issue, a sustainability issue, and a campus equitability issue. Our estimates place the cost of the Bear Bus to be below $500,000 annually - less than 7% of the funding given to University Housing by OU. OU has the funding, it is time to act. 

The elimination of the Bear Bus speaks to a larger trend at OU: essential services and chances for employment will be eliminated - even during a global pandemic - if it means money can be saved. Even if you believe your job or essential service to be safe, there is no guarantee it will not be drastically reduced or completely eliminated. If OU wants to truly live up to the standard of being a welcoming and inclusive place, the Bear Bus must return and the trend of eliminating important jobs and services must end. In addition to the reinstatement of the Bear Bus, we are calling on OU to commit to ending the cycle of raising tuition and reducing or eliminating student services.

An increase in tuition and a massive boost in funding for University Housing should mean that lives improve at OU. If OU cannot fund a program as vital and as simple as the Bear Bus, then our student tuition dollars are not being used appropriately and the 4.2% increase to tuition should be revoked. Tuition costs rise, student services continue to be gutted - this must change. Students and student workers are the only reason OU can exist, so our university should serve our interests. 

By signing this petition, you are standing with the OU community in calling for the reinstatement of the Bear Bus program and for OU to commit to prioritizing vital student services over profit.

The Oakland United Student Workers Coalition