Colleges are expensive in the United States. No one can deny that these heated prices are a parents and students main fear. Trouble has recently emerged at Cornell University, where the university has placed an extra fee on health insurance. This was a memo that students of Cornell University received from school President David Skorton, regarding the future health care system of the University, a policy that has sparked uproar among the student body.
“Effective next academic year, 2015-16, we will be introducing a student health fee for those not enrolled in the Cornell Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). As a physician, parent and president, I am proud of our university’s long history of providing quality medical, mental health, education and prevention services on campus. These essential services play a critical role in student well being and, therefore, success. Yet funding these services — and creating access to them for all students — has been a growing fiscal challenge, and a personal concern of mine.”
While it’s mandatory for students who attend Cornell to have health insurance, the Ivy League institution is forcing students to pay 350 dollars for a health insurance waiving fee even if their own program already covers the students.
The announcement has caused several rallies on campus ,which included 150 students taking over the school’s administrative building as well as the president’s office; while others took to social media with the hashtag, #FightTheFee.
While students plan on continuing their protests, the school administration plans on sticking to their new policy.
Cornell Vice President for Student and Academic Services Susan Murphy, stated that the “the fee is necessary to create a sustainable model for health services while also increasing accessibility and protecting student privacy,” and that, It is our responsibility to work together, to make sure everyone in our community who needs help gets it. That is a burden, and a benefit, we all share.”
Photo By The Cornell Daily Sun / Michelle Feldman
