Tuition equality in Tennessee higher education to be discussed Tuesday

Posted at 9:13 am October 19, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Eben Cathey

Tuition equality in Tennessee higher education will be discussed during a lunchtime meeting Tuesday.

Eben Cathey, advocacy manager of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, or TIRRC, will give a presentation on tuition equality for undocumented students at Lunch with the League at noon Tuesday, October 20, the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, a press release said. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Cathey will discuss current legislation in the Tennessee General Assembly that would grant undocumented students the opportunity to pay in-state tuition at public colleges. Currently, undocumented students in Tennessee must pay out-of-state tuition at public universities, even if they have lived in Tennessee for most of their lives, the press release said.

Last year, HB675, or the “Tuition Equality” bill, failed by one vote in the House of Representatives after passing through the Senate. The bill will be up for another vote in 2016 and would increase access to higher education for more than 25,000 students.

Cathey was born and raised in Smyrna, Tennessee, and joined TIRRC in 2012. He graduated in 2006 from Rhodes College in Memphis with a bachelor’s degree in political science and the classics. He was awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to study in South Africa, where he earned a master’s degree in political and international studies.

Cathey is TIRRC’s advocacy manager, and he directs TIRRC’s strategic communications. He has worked on the Tuition Equality campaign since 2012.

Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League is open to the public. There is no cost to attend and reservations are not needed. Box lunches will be available starting at 11:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis for $8, or you may bring your own. Coffee and tea are provided.

Membership in the League is open to both men and women. For more information about LWVOR, visit http://lwvoakridge.org.

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