APSCUF-Kutztown faculty union hosted a rally in front of Kutztown University’s Schaeffer Auditorium on Dec. 7 to speak up for higher education and against new or increased taxation of universities and students.
“For you, your education, your future debt, and what you can do about it,” said APSCUF (Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Facilities) member Kevin Mahoney, a KU English professor.
Mahoney and other APSCUF members were joined by KU students to protest the House version of the GOP tax reform bill.
This bill includes a provision that would tax waived tuition for graduate students as if it were income. For many students looking to pursue their master’s and doctorate degrees, this bill will cause them to think twice about that decision.
Alexis Davis, a junior at KU who majors in social work, is currently weighing her options to decide on if she wants to pursue her master’s degree. She says that this bill is making her second guess if she wants or is able to pursue higher education.
“It limits the use of financial aid which I know I rely on and other students rely on to attend this fantastic university,” said Davis.
Will Strouse, a current graduate student in the Computer Science and Information Technology department at KU, spoke solemnly about how this bill would affect not only him, but every other graduate student whom are trying to better themselves and their future.
“This bill is the biggest threat to higher education that we have ever seen in our history. Every single person who is trying to elevate themselves into the upper echelons of education is at risk for trying to further themselves due to this bill,” said Strouse.
Mahoney explained more in-depth about how exactly this bill will affect graduate students.
“We will watch graduate students who are making anywhere between $15,000 and $19,000 per year for teaching first year courses, for doing research, for doing service to the university, and getting a tuition waiver. Instead of paying tax on the basically poverty wage they are getting to do that work, they will be paying taxes on the full cost of tuition,” said Mahoney.
Dan Spiegel, a spokesperson for APSCUF, and a professor of Computer Science and Information Technology at KU who is currently on sabbatical, wanted the rally to be portrayed as a message of solidarity and unity, not as a political and ideological protest.
“This is something that is not partisan, it is something that we all have to stand up for, because it is a threat to higher education in this country,” said Spiegel.
Mahoney spoke very passionately about the effects this bill would have on his students in whom he cares so deeply about.
“This will impact 13.4 million taxpayers who are basically able to deduct student loan payments from their taxes. At some of the most elite universities, those students will have more of a tax burden than what they will actually receive in yearly stipend,” he said.
Mahoney said, “We have a choice to make whether or not we will allow our country to go this way.”
Mahoney encouraged the public to talk to their representatives and legislators about this bill.