We all know that AU is an expensive school. With a tuition of more than $40,000 a year, many students need to take on a part-time job in addition to their classes. One of the most convenient ways to do this has traditionally been on-campus jobs at places like the library or dorm front desks. It has become increasingly difficult to be hired for these jobs on AU’s campus.
Only a small portion of the jobs available on AU’s campus are made available to students. The work the University does in providing jobs to members of the surrounding community is admirable, but should it really come at the cost of AU students being unable to pay for their education?
Of course The Eagle is not suggesting that all non-AU students working in jobs that students could potentially do should be fired. But perhaps, as those people naturally choose to retire or take jobs elsewhere, they could be continually replaced by AU students. Students could easily take jobs cleaning dishes or swiping people into Terrace Dining Room or many of the other restaurants on campus. Last year, even, the new Starbucks promised to hire AU students but did not follow through.
We have the new empty space that will replace Tigi salon. Whatever the school decides to put there, we recommend that they staff it with AU students, whether they are approved for federal work study or not.
Adding more jobs for students is one of the easiest ways AU could increase socioeconomic diversity on campus. As it is now, the hefty amount of tuitions fees effectively shut out a large number of potential students. If AU truly wants to be a universally diverse school, they need to start helping the needs of students who can’t afford to casually drop $160,000 on a college education. So, all of us.
