A tuition forum, organized by student leaders hoping to communicate with the student body about potential tuition hikes, was plagued Thursday night by a lack of publicity and student interest.
Student Body President Seth Dearmin said earlier this week that he would use the forum to gauge student opinion. But of the 18 students to attend the event, most were members of student government.
"I thought the information presented was exactly what students need to hear," said Mary Williams, one of Dearmin's executive assistants. "I think it's a shame more people didn't come to hear."
Dearmin explained the tuition process to the group and detailed progress made by the tuition advisory task force, of which he serves as co-chairman.
He said tuition increases might be necessary to retain top faculty and graduate students.
The task force discussed numbers for the first time Wednesday and expects to cement a proposal during its Oct. 10 meeting.
Dearmin said the task force is focusing heavily on graduate student needs.
Adrian Johnston, student body vice president and a task force member, explained that the group also is looking at race and ethnicity.
"We want to ensure that tuition increases are not altering the make up of the campus," Johnston said. "It really fundamentally affects what Carolina is all about."