Tristan Markle graduated last May from UBC with a degree in biology, $37,000 in federal and provincial loan debt, and $5,000 in credit card debt.
As a result, Markle and the Alma Mater Society of UBC Vancouver have submitted a complaint to the United Nations this week citing "gross human rights violations" due to high tuition rates for post secondary institutions in B.C.
They want the Canadian and B.C. governments to recognize that tuition rates are "making it difficult if not impossible," for some people to attend post secondary school, said Katrina Pacey of Pivot Legal who is representing Markle and the AMS.
The high costs of tuition in B.C. go against the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which was signed by Canada, and states that "Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all ..." according to Pacey.
The AMS want better regulation for tuition, better funding for post secondary institutions and more non-repayable grants and bursaries.
The issue is going to the UN because the AMS has exhausted all methods of getting the attention of the governments and tuition has "continued to rise with no relief in sight," according to Blake Frederick, president of the AMS.
"These governments must be held accountable for their broken promise," he said.
