HALIFAX--Students will meet on the Dalhousie University Campus tonight at 7:00pm to send hand-written letters to their Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in response to the recently released government commissioned Report on the University System in Nova Scotia. The report, written by former Bank of Montreal Vice-President Tim O'Neill, recommends unlimited tuition fee increases and policies that would result in ballooning student debt.

"This year the government will making major decisions regarding our universities, tuition fees and financial aid and it's important that our MLAs know how those decisions will impact students in our day-to-day lives," said James Hutt, a member of the Dalhousie-King's Oxfam Society. "Writing letters to our elected representatives is just one of the many ways that students in Nova Scotia are pushing back against the recommendations contained in the O'Neill Report."

Since returning to campus in September students have collected hundreds of signatures on the petition to increase per-student funding to universities, reduce tuition fees and increase grants, held town hall meetings to solicit student input on the O'Neill Report and sent emails to their MLAs asking them to reduce fees and drop debt through www.cfs-ns.ca. The Canadian Federation of Students-Nova Scotia also submitted an initial response to government and produced a Membership Advisory on the O'Neill Report.

"Students and our supporters will be taking to the streets this February 2 to call on our government to reduce fees and drop debt," said Gabe Hoogers, Nova Scotia National Executive Representative for Canadian Federation of Students. "Right now it's important that Nova Scotians take every chance they get to tell their MLAs that they support a well-funded, affordable system of post-secondary education in this province."Currently, average undergraduate tuition fees in Nova Scotia are $5, 495 while average student debt after a four-year degree is $31, 000. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the government and the university presidents that guaranteed universities three years of funding as well as a tuition fee freeze for Nova Scotia students expires March 31, 2011.

The event will be held in room 207 of the Weldon Law Building, Dalhousie University.