THUNDER BAY, ON - November 4, 2008 - Some of Lakehead University students are taking to the street Wednesday to protest the rising cost of post‐secondary education and its impact on students and families. Students are rallying in the University Agora at 10a.m. for a march to MPP Micheal Gravelle’s office. Of particular concern to students is the increasing burden of the costs of education and financial aid loans, explains President Richard Longtin, “ In fact for every $1000 dollar increase in tuition 19% of low income students choose not to go to university, which is an absolute tragedy.” Longtin went on to explain that student loan debt is at all time high in Canada with student debt reaching almost $13,000,000.”

As a visual protest to the burden of student loans Longtin has been asking students to “pledge” their student loan debt. These pledge forms are being posted in University hallways to demonstrate the massive burden Lakehead University student face. Last year students pledged over ten million dollars , this year the outlook is stark, debt seems to be rising, and the current economic situation job prospects are bleaker, so repayment will be harder. “ There is only so much we as students can take, our loan debt will collapse in on us, and our futures will be ruined, at the same time without education our future isn’t much more optimistic.” The province’s refusal to properly fund post‐secondary education is creating a dismal outlook for tomorrow’s workforce, hopefully Micheal Gravelle will take our concerns seriously and realize that its not just students this effect.