UChicago Students Protest At President Zimmer's House, Demanding Tuition Cut

HYDE PARK — Students with UChicago for Fair Tuition held a socially distanced rally Friday afternoon outside the home of university president Robert Zimmer, calling on the university to negotiate a tuition cut through the coronavirus pandemic.

About 25 students — in 10 cars and 15 on the street — gathered at 61st Street and Cottage Grove Avenue before heading to the President’s House, 5855 S. University Ave.

Earlier this month, UChicago for Fair Tuition organizers released a set of five demands:

Reduce tuition by half and waive fees through the pandemic.
Waive advanced residency tuition for doctoral students.
Release a breakdown of university spending.
Reinstate part-time status for all students, which the university eliminated in 2015.
Institute a tuition freeze.

Students with UChicago for Fair Tuition held a socially distanced rally Friday afternoon outside the home of university president Robert Zimmer. Credit: Maxwell Evans/Block Club Chicago

The total cost of tuition, housing and other fees will remain the same for next year’s undergraduates, University of Chicago officials announced last week. A tuition freeze is also in effect for the School of Social Service Administration, a master’s program.

Despite claiming victory on the tuition freeze, hundreds of students have committed to withholding tuition if the university doesn’t negotiate on the other demands by Wednesday. That’s the day tuition for the spring quarter is due.

Before then, students will continue calling and emailing university officials, reaching out to other students via social media, and planning direct actions.

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UChicago Students Protest At President Zimmer’s House, Demanding Tuition Cut

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Maxwell Evans

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