POUR DIFFUSION IMMDIATE :

Les bureaux de ladministration de luniversit dOttawa, barricads par ses tudiants

OTTAWA, ON, le 24 mai 2012- Des tudiants de lUniversit dOttawa ont dcid de barricader les entres aux bureaux de leur administration, en opposition la rcente hausse des frais de scolarits propose le 2 avril dernier. Les manifestants demandent que ladministration de luniversit annule cette dcision, et accepte de geler les frais de scolarits pour la prochaine anne acadmique. Les tudiants de lOntario paient les frais de scolarit les plus levs au pays, et ont accumul une dette tudiante collective de plus de 9 milliards $. Nicole Desnoyers tudiante en tudes des femmes et sociologie, et reprsentante des tudiants du premier cycle au bureau des gouverneurs de lUniversit, affirme que malgr la proposition de consulter les tudiants afin didentifier les coupures possibles dans le budget qui permettront dviter une hausse des frais de scolarit, ces derniers nont pas particip aux discussions . Sans avoir la possibilit didentifier des conomies possibles dans le budget universitaire, les tudiants de luniversit dOttawa risquent fort de devoir accepter une facture plus sale lan prochain pour leurs tudes. Le 2 avril dernier, le bureau des gouverneurs a dcid daugmenter les frais de scolarit de 5% pour lanne acadmique dbutant en septembre. Le budget universitaire pour la prochaine anne na pas encore t adopt, maintenant la possibilit dviter une 6e hausse conscutive des frais de scolarit. Les tudiants de luniversit dOttawa esprent renverser la dcision avant lapprobation du budget, prvue lundi prochain. -30-

Pour plus dinformation ou pour une entrevue, veuillez contacter : Nicole Desnoyers Organisatrice des campagnes, et tudiante en tudes des femmes et sociologie Fdration tudiante de lUniversit dOttawa (613) 858-1862

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Offices of the University of Ottawa barricaded by its students OTTAWA, ON, 24 May 2012 Students at the University of Ottawa have decided to barricade their universitys administration from their offices this morning in opposition to a tuition fee increase proposed by the administration this past April 2nd. The protesters are demanding that the University administration reverse their decision and freeze tuition fees for the upcoming academic year. Students in Ontario pay the highest tuition fees in the country, and have a collective student debt of over $9 billion. Despite their assurances of consulting students to identify possible cuts in the budget that would avoid increases in tuition fees, they [the University] have not conducted such consultations, said Nicole Desnoyers, student in Womens Studies and Sociology, and undergraduate student representative on the Universitys Board of Governors. Without exploring the possibility of identifying savings in the Universitys budget, students at the University of Ottawa face the risk of having to accept a larger bill for their studies in the coming year. On April 2nd, the Board of Governors decided to increase tuition fees by 5% for the academic year beginning this September. The University has not yet adopted a budget for the upcoming year, maintaining the possibility of avoiding a 6th consecutive increase in tuition fees. Students at the University of Ottawa are hoping for a reversal in the decision to increase fees before adoption of the budget, currently set for next Monday.

-30For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact: Nicole Desnoyers Campaigns organiser and student in womens studies and sociology Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (613) 858-1862