[xml][/xml]
The Bahamas Weekly Facebook The Bahamas Weekly Twitter
Columns : Letters to The Editor Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM


COBUS Senate Speaker: We are entitled to demand and expect more
By Ra’Monne D. Gardiner
Apr 19, 2013 - 1:47:52 PM

Email this article
 Mobile friendly page
"...if the College of the Bahamas demands more from us as students then we are entitled to demand and expect more from them as a College"

The American War of Independence was based on a very simple concept “No taxation without representation.” Today, students at the College of the Bahamas voice a similar concern. Administrators seek to increase taxes on the student body without any representation as to how these fees will positively affect the student population. The fight of students at COB is not directly aimed at the raise in fees. Rather it is aimed at a lack of confidence that these fees will improve the conditions that students face on a day to day basis at the College. There has been much commentary on the question of whether not the COB is justified in raising tuition, I seek to analyse this from a stakeholder perspective.

Many individuals are of the belief that COB students pay extremely inexpensive tuition already and should not complain about any increase in non-tuition fees. However compared to our Caribbean counterparts there is nothing that impressive with the cost of tuition at COB. In Barbados and Trinidad students can get a college education for little to no cost entirely. It is also important to note that the College of the Bahamas is a State owned institution (due to the fact that the majority of its funding comes from the government) not a private institution. All State Universities even in the United States typically feature low tuition for its residents/nationals. At Florida State University residents of Florida pay $ 4,916.00 for tuition whereas non-residents pay on average $20,080.00. The fact that COB features lower tuition that Private Colleges/Universities is no justification to increase non-tuition fees.

COB seeks to mandate students to pay $50 for parking, $50 for the library, an additional $20 for technology and $100 for capital development. This amounts to $220 each student has to pay. To some, these fees are reasonable; however an understanding of the everyday experience of COB students may provide a better understanding of our discontent to paying them. The College of the Bahamas parking lot can accommodate less than 300 cars yet it has a student body of approximately 5,000 students. I have so many questions in relation to the proposed parking fee. If students are required to pay $50 for parking will they be guaranteed a parking space? The College of the Bahamas has been adamant in the past they assume no responsibility for damage or theft done to vehicles in its parking lot, will they now accept responsibility? The College of the Bahamas cannot arbitrarily require students to pay such a fee if there is a lack of understanding as to how this fee will actually benefit students. Is the College going to build another parking lot?

The introduction of a parking fee also does not take into account the countless students that take bus transportation to and from the College of the Bahamas each day that never utilize the parking lot. Many students catch one bus or even two daily to get to COB and then another two to get home. To catch one bus to COB is $1.25 with a cost of $6.25 a week (5 days). If a student caught the bus everyday to school for a semester (14 weeks) they would be paying $87.50 minimum. This figure does not take into account the cost of two bus rides to get to school or the cost of getting back home. Is it just to charge students that catch bus everyday $50 a semester for fees?

Additionally, The College of the Bahamas seeks to implement a library fee. This in and of itself is not a bad idea. The library should properly be maintained. My question is however does this mean that the library will now be able to account for all of its books? Does this mean that the printers and computers will be working on a continuos basis? Does this mean that more staff will be hired to assist students? None of these questions have been answered, yet students are supposed to be happy with this new fee. I have a similar question in relation to the technology fee. Will the computer labs work have working printers for at least half of the semester? Are there plans to purchase additional computers?

The most interesting fee that students have been asked to pay in my opinion is this Capital Development fee of $100. Certainly it is important for the College to expand and maintain its buildings, but will the College actually do this. What plans do senior administrators have for the College? What expansion can students look forward to? This is once again “taxation without representation”.

The College of the Bahamas has struggled to keep proper account of its finances for years. I make this remark as a victim of its poor accounting. In 2012, I attempted to register for my final semester at the College of the Bahamas only to find out that there was a stop that was preventing me from registering. I visited the business office in search of an answer and was told that I owed COB $300 as a result of non payment of a class in 2008. I was baffled and shocked as I had never once had an outstanding balance on my account in my life. I quickly learned that I was not the only individual with such a problem. In fact, I know of at least three other persons that have had similar experiences. If COB is asking for more money from students how does it ensure it will be able to account for these funds in the first place?

I write this open letter as I conclude my term as the Senate Speaker of the College of The Bahamas Union of Students Legislative Branch to bring about a better appreciation of the protest of COB students. In fact COB students would gladly pay certain increases in fees. What fees do we need to pay in order to graduate within two years for an associate’s degree or four years for a bachelor’s degree? What fees do we need pay to receive better security on campus? I conclude this letter with a simple comment, if the College of the Bahamas demands more from us as students then we are entitled to demand and expect more from them as a College.

Ra’Monne D. Gardiner

Senate Speaker

COBUS 2012-2013

Bookmark and Share




© Copyright 2013 by thebahamasweekly.com

Top of Page

Receive our Top Stories



Preview | Powered by CommandBlast

Letters to The Editor
Latest Headlines
Proposed zero vat removal from breadbasket items
Michael Brooks: A look at Bahamian culture
Equality Bahamas Welcomes Women in Parliament to Advocate for Human Rights
Letter to the Editor: The time is now! The Bahamas must act now to ban oil drilling forever
Joe Darville: Open Letter to The Prime Minister of The Bahamas