public speaking speech

First point

1000 per month in rent isn't unreasonable or uncommon at many universities, and the cost of housing is all relative to the area. In the small rural college town of Farmville, Virginia, the average rent will run a person about 525 per month. This is half the price of most of our school sponsored options, and is more than 30% lower than the housing cost index for the state of Virginia.

Second point

According to a study of public universities in the united states, the nations average tuition and fees constitute 39% of the total budget for in state students living on campus at public 4 year universities. Meaning 39% of the cost of housing is already paid for in tuition. According to the same study many of the larger public universities in the country profit upwards to 50% on their ticket tuition, and room and board rates.

Attention Getter

Did you know that 70-80% of all students graduating from a four year public university will have some sort of student debt? There is a serious issue on our campus. It is causing a lower retention rate of student after their first year, allowing fewer students to be able to afford school, putting student in large amounts of debt and causing unneeded stress to the student. Based on the survey we gave in class we concluded that not only are students unhappy with the cost of housing but also the issues that go along with living in school sponsored housing.

Third point

Due to their not being any state regulations on housing rates, Longwood's board of trustees can base their rates on whatever area or reason they choose. Longwood University should be trying to reduce the price difference, and adjust their rates more closely with the area index.

Main idea

Longwood's board of trustees directly and indirectly influences all rates of housing available to students.

Statement of topics relevance for the audience

The cost of attending college is rising every year, and part of this is the gradual increase of student housing costs. I'm sure everyone in this room, regardless of who is paying for school, would like to see a change to make an education more affordable and more accessible to everyone.

Transition into second part

This problem stems from a few different places.

Fourth Point

Walktocampus and green properties base their rates off of Longwood's rates, rather than basing them off of the area index. This is due to the fact that they predominantly control the student housing market, and are realistically the universities only competitor for housing. This forces student to pay these inflated rates, due to the lack of other available options.

Thesis statement/policy claim

we are proposing that Longwood university should revise their student housing rates, and provide more available options for students.