By Marissa Lowman

Streaking through the streets, boycotting classes, camping in IKEA stores: these are only a few of the creative tactics that German students have been using since November to challenge the country’s proposed nationwide budget cuts to public universities, as well as the threat of introducing tuition to these universities, which for years haven’t cost students a cent. Two years ago, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder passed a law forbidding public universities from charging tuition, although significant budget cuts due to debt coupled with the deterioration of many campuses are threatening the feasibility of continued free, quality education.

Currently a high school diploma guarantees admission to any German university, which has caused recent overcrowding problems. Additional frustrations, such as limited library resources, decrepit buildings, and mediocre research have begun to frustrate both teachers and students to the point of protest. Some students, however, support the fees because they believe they are vital to the improvement of their campuses. Jens Bremme wrote a letter to his university president, which was signed by 47 others, offering to pay 100 Euro (approximately $128.00) per semester. Furthermore, according to a survey in SPIEGEL, 30 percent of students are ready and willing to pay 500 Euro (approximately $641.00) per semester. The tuition would cover studying at the university, but not the books, meals or housing and those prices will vary among universities. For these students who never had to pay tuition before, this seemingly small amount of money seems like a lot to pay for education.

However, many fear that their money will wind up in government hands, instead of the universities themselves. Others simply cannot afford to pay. Students have a reason to be skeptical though because Chancellor Schröder seems to be avoiding the problem of the current status of university education by focusing instead on his plan to invest money in 10 elite, tuition-free universities, which he wants to build by 2010, although he is unwilling to spend more money to improve current campuses. Many people, including Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, believe that the only way for elite universities to succeed is through the introduction of tuition.

The protests are at least increasing awareness, through the attention of the media, that both a problem exists and that students want to take responsibility for their education. Without the support of the government, though, improvements are going to be difficult, if not impossible.