Upset that administrators weren’t hearing their concerns about proposed tuition increases, a group of Kansas University students moved its demonstration Tuesday from Wescoe Beach to the Provost’s Office.

About 40 students packed into Provost David Shulenburger’s office lobby, saying large increases are unnecessary and would cause some students to leave KU.

Aaron Paden, Kansas University senior, from Lawrence, addresses students with his concerns about proposed tuition increases. KU students conducted an open-mike tuition rally Monday to respond to a KU committee's proposal that would almost double tuition at the university in the next five years.

“The state of Kansas is having a budget crisis,” said Megan Johnson, a freshman in American studies and journalism. “Well, the students of KU and their families are having a budget crisis.”

KU officials are considering plans that could double tuition during the next five years.

A committee of students, faculty and staff on Monday endorsed a plan that would increase tuition for an average student incrementally from $2,886 to $5,213 by 2006.

The protesting students with two KU Public Safety officers keeping close tabs expressed concerns to Shulenburger. They said the increases would send a message that KU is an exclusive school.

“What we’re saying is people of lower-income classes don’t have any business being here,” said Ed Minges, a junior film major. “If I wanted to go to a place like that, I would have gone to a private school.”

Shulenburger said KU’s tuition is low compared to other universities.

“I’m still asking you this question how do students attend schools elsewhere where tuition is higher?” he said.

Later, Shulenburger told the students: “I want to continue to hear your voices.”

Before moving to Strong Hall, several hundred students at Wescoe Beach listened to speakers at an open-microphone tuition rally.

“E-mail the provost. E-mail the chancellor. E-mail Student Senate,” said Kyle Browning, student body vice-president and one of the event’s organizers. “Get involved in the process.”

Several students criticized the campuswide committee that approved tuition increases for agreeing with the administration’s wishes.

Dallas Rakestraw, the committee’s student co-chairman, spoke for several minutes to the group, saying the 20 percent of a tuition increase reserved for financial aid was adequate under several scenarios considered by the committee.

But Rakestraw stopped talking when Paden began yelling at him, accusing Rakestraw of not responding to an e-mail about financial aid.

“I don’t have time to be yelled at,” Rakestraw said.

Chancellor Robert Hemenway will present a tuition proposal to the Kansas Board of Regents in April, with a vote by regents set for May.