Once Again, Lakehead Prioritizes Profits Over People
During the pandemic, Lakehead elected to raise tuition prices across all programs. For international engineering students in the 2020-2021 school year, for example, yearly tuition costs rose from $28,400 to $32,000 - roughly 13% percent. This year, Lakehead also boasted that it had been ranked as one of the top universities in the world, contributing to poverty reduction, elimination of hunger, reduced inequalities, good health and well-being, and to peace, justice, and strong institutions. Cue crickets?
Considering these tens of thousands of dollars are for full-time enrollment, when are students supposed to make this money, plus enough for living expenses? Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal is one of the many international students unable to keep up with Lakehead’s increasing monetary demands. Keep in mind Abu and all other international students are paying such an exorbitant amount of money to obtain the same education that Canadian citizens receive at Lakehead for a significantly lower amount.
Generally speaking, people are against the wage gap across the board. It does not make sense for people to do the same work for different pay. So, why, then, is it acceptable for different people to pay different amounts for the same education? That is not to mention the student-perceived decrease in the quality of a Lakehead education since the pandemic. In fact, few students have returned to in-person classes full-time while remaining unable to complete their degree solely online either, which causes students to pay to live on campus for only one to three classes. Of course, the general well-being of struggling students is irrelevant so long as their tuition is paid… right?
Abu moved from Bangladesh to attend Lakehead in Thunder Bay four years ago. Since then, he has been a dedicated and eager student. Abu was able to stay in Canada based on the Migrant Study Permit, which allows students to reside in the country so long as they are in school. When Lakehead increased its tuition rates for international students, Abu became unable to afford his continued schooling. In fact, in an effort to salvage his educational journey, Abu was forced to take jobs with extremely poor working conditions, where he was not paid his full wages. Of course, he had no choice because of his immigration status. Despite this demeaning work, Abu could not afford to continue his education at Lakehead.
In an effort to continue his life here in Canada, Abu applied for Canadian residency 18 months ago, but it has still not been processed. Despite his current temporary status, Abu is set to be deported on January 1, 2023. As Lakehead has turned its head to this inequity, a local Thunder Bay church has stepped up to feed the impoverished student.
This is not the first time Lakehead has valued profits over their students– students who often give their entire summer earnings to the “not-for-profit organization.” From “postponing” crucial scholarships and bursaries for several months in 2021 to signing a deal with a catering company that would sooner have students go hungry than provide quality meals, students are being let down time after time.
To band together as fellow students to help Abu, you can sign the petition to stop his deportation here. Abu is a hardworking student who came here to further his education; instead, Lakehead has taken all of his money and left him with nothing, leaving Abu feeling like “a disposable human being with an expiration date.”
Let us make the simple decision to sign this petition, and demonstrate the compassion that we can only hope Lakehead will display this holiday season.
