In a resolution addressed to the president of Saint Louis University, Loyola’s Student Government Association condemned the host-university’s decision to charge 129 visiting Loyola students tuition for the Fall 2005 semester.

The SGA resolution, passed on Feb. 14, asked SLU President the Rev. Lawrence Biondi, S.J., why his university broke an agreement with the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities that stated all Jesuit institutions would waive tuition fees in light of Loyola retaining tuition.

“Not only did the decision breach the commitment of the AJCU, it also came several weeks into the semester,” said the SGA resolution.

Clayton Berry, director of media relations for SLU, said the university was clear about the financial situation. SLU set up a Web site with questions and answers three days after Hurricane Katrina and offered to match each student’s financial aid package from Loyola.

“The arrangement at SLU was communicated to students since day one,” Berry said. “As students and parents called [seeking admission], they were informed of financial responsibilities.”

Cyndy Littlefield, director of federal relations for the AJCU, said the arrangement between the institutions mostly focused on the urgency of admitting students.

In the Jan. 13 issue of The Maroon, the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., Loyola University president, said he thought the original structure was to admit students and work out any financial issues later with each institution. Wildes said he leaned about SLU charging tuition during a visit there.

Littlefield said SLU was the only school to not waive tuition fees, but she did not know when that decision was made. Archived news releases on AJCU’s Web site never indicated a concrete agreement between all institutions to waive tuition.

Direct communication with Loyola did not occur until weeks after the hurricane, Berry said, and AJCU’s initial response to the situation allowed the institutions to act individually.

The letter to Biondi not only asked for an explanation of the decision but also for SLU to reimburse Loyola and its students for the incurred financial costs.

Naomi King can be reached at [email protected].