The Arizona Board of Regents met in the Memorial Union at the Tempe campus on Thursday to discuss recent tuition surcharges and issues of free speech.
The public meeting began at 10:30 a.m. with speeches from students. They urged the board to consider its impact on the student body. ASU President Michael Crow also spoke at the meeting.
READ MORE: Michael Crow hosts forum at West Valley, speaks on free speech, tuition, mental health
"We heard a lot of excellent speeches, a lot of students really talking about how they are being directly harmed by the increased financial burden as our fees keep going up," said Michael Kintscher, a Ph.D. student in computer science and Graduate Student Government assembly president. "The $350 tuition surcharge — that was a surprise to all of us when it was announced last semester."
Kintscher is the first in their family to pursue a Ph.D., paying for their education through federally funded programs. They said the increased financial burden takes opportunities away from graduate students, along with their own ability to further their education, causing them distress.
"All of us rely on each other to get our work done and to write and produce the research that actually drives this University forward," Kintscher said.
The impact of this tuition surcharge on international students was also brought up by other speakers.
"While pursuing my education, I did not receive any financial assistance or scholarships during my admission, making these added costs even more challenging," said Anya Chaturvedi, a graduate student studying computer science.
Chaturvedi said hiring opportunities for international students are very competitive, with over 250 students applying for the same office aide position. She said this greatly limits the financial support international students are able to receive.
"We also cannot work more to afford these fees," said Finlay Warsop Thomas, a Ph.D. candidate studying microbiology. "We are legally restricted to the 20 hours a week of on campus employment. This means we are utterly powerless in the face of these fee increases."
READ MORE: GSG votes to subsidize new tuition surcharge for graduate student body
The College Republicans United tabling on Jan. 31 was also brought up by speakers at the meeting.
"Just to put it bluntly, we don't think ICE should be on campus," said Alberto Plantillas, a graduate student studying public policy.
Plantillas said he has heard from many international students within the Thunderbird School of Global Management that they "feel intimidated by these actions."
Although Plantillas said ABOR should address the actions of CRU at ASU, ABOR's policy on free speech states that it is not the role of the University to "shield individuals from speech protected by the First Amendment, including, without limitation, ideas and opinions that may be unwelcome, disagreeable or deeply offensive."
However, many students who spoke felt that the CRU event on campus promoted racial profiling, calling into question how the University handles harassment and threats — which are considered violations of ABOR policy.
"I grew up under a regime where speaking freely was not a right but a risk, especially for women," Mehreen Tahir, a Ph.D. student in environmental life sciences, who went to school in Pakistan, said in her speech. "True free speech fosters dialogue. It does not intimidate, endanger or make people fearful."
Tahir said she feels she cannot express her opinion the way her peers can because she feels unsafe. She said she supports free speech, but there should be a distinction between free speech and hate speech.
READ MORE: Opinion: Hate speech is an unnecessary evil
After the students voiced their opinions, Crow presented a report on the current status, opportunities and risks the ASU Public Enterprise and the University face.
In reference to the CRU at ASU tabling, Crow said the University provided CRU at ASU with a faculty advisor to give them a space on campus to express their free speech.
"We decided that we would continue to allow those four students to try to mature and work out their things within the rules and confines of the University space," Crow said.
During the meeting, Joanne Vogel, vice president of Student Services with Educational Outreach and Student Services, said there is a team that monitors any event that takes place within the University's environment to identify any violations of the University policy or the student code of conduct.
"Our first duty is the successful operation of the institution for the students, staff and faculty," Crow said. "Our second duty is their safety, and then we have the protection of free speech within those two conditions."
Crow then directed the conversation toward ASU's financial progress, ASU's partnership with OpenAI and other ways in which the University has progressed over the years, including how each may be beneficial to students.
Edited by George Headley, Sophia Ramirez, Alexis Heichman, and Katrina Michalak.
Reach the reporter at ktale@asu.edu and follow @KasturiTale on X.
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Kasturi is a sophomore studying journalism. This is her third semester with The State Press. She has her own blog and has worked in creative writing.
