Amidst fervent protest and backlash, the University of Saskatchewan’s 2017-18 budget — released last week — announced the shutdown of St. Thomas More College on campus. The decision to shut down the 81-year-old college has erupted in controversy, with many students who use STM speaking out.

“I think it’s insane, frankly,” Martha Eichner told the Sheaf. “There are hundreds of people on campus — many of whom are old and enfeebled — who rely on STM everyday. I understand we at the university are facing a deficit but I don’t see why the U of S administration should be targeting and punishing this college in an effort to fix their uh-oh.”

Another student, fourth-year philosophy major Everett Otterbein told the Sheaf that STM shutting down will jeopardize his future.

“I take 21st Century Ethical Dilemmas in STM three days a week,” Otterbein said. “How am I going to access my education once this is taken away from me? It’s not just people taking classes either. From church services to nutritious soups, all sorts of people are dependent on STM’s services to live and work. Just because no one in the U of S administration has ever had to rely on STM, that doesn’t mean that real, everyday students and faculty don’t need it. Last time I checked, their duty was to represent our best interests and this is just a slap in the face.”

An online petition to save STM has already garnered over 19,000 signatures and a rally is scheduled to take place on Apr. 1 in the Bowl.