COLUMN: Students shouldn’t pay for state’s debt

The other day I saw an old, beat up pick-up with a handwritten “For Sale” sign on it. Just underneath the sign was the reason for the sale, also handwritten: “Need $$$ For School.”

I don’t know what happened to that truck. I know I didn’t buy it. Frankly, I’m as scrapped as the next guy for a buck.

But amidst talks of hefty tuition hikes, I suppose the trend will continue. Kids selling cars, trucks and their firstborn all to pay for their college education.

So what about this proposed 43 percent tuition increase?

Last Friday, I decided I’d skip class (I figure it cost me more than $20 to do so with what I’m currently paying for tuition, and nearly $30 under the scheduled tuition increase).

You see, I skipped class to attend the State Board of Regents Meeting held at Weber State University. The group is the governing board of higher education in the state. So I figured I’d see what they really do.

For about an hour they addressed various items of low-key business. But then at the end came the kicker – rising tuition. The problem is that the state legislature has been forcing universities to raise tuition for several years now.

The problem stems from a trend these last few years. In 2001, Utah students paid an average of 30 percent of their total tuition costs. The state covered the rest. In 2003, that number jumped to 37 percent. And the latest figures put us at around 42 percent.

In other words, we, as students, are paying more and more in recent years, but getting the same, or even less for our tuition dollar. Why? Because the state’s not funding as much proportionally as they once did.

And, as one observant regent said, “It doesn’t look like there’s relief in sight.”

And the board seemed concerned about it.

But, as some have noted, Utah students pay less than the national average. So we should have seen it coming, right? Well, another interesting side note presented at Friday’s meeting is that Utah gives one of the smallest financial aid supplements in the country, providing on average $29.20 of aid per student compared to the national average of $354.32. The excuse though has always been that low tuition compensates for that.

Well, 43 percent later and that argument sort of went down the drain didn’t it? Oops.

The problem, though, is that President Hall’s got a very valid point. Faculty haven’t received a significant raise in years among other needs that administration needs to address. In the meantime, the university suffers.

So, why the lack of support from the state?

As one regent put it, “If we’re willing to raise tuition, the state needs to be willing to bear their share.”

“The state is out of money,” was the cry from the Commissioner of Education, Richard Kendall.

“Well so are students,” I wanted to say.

The recession affects all of us, especially those of us living on a meager, Cache Valley income.

How would the state accept a 43 percent tax increase? Well, they wouldn’t.

And frankly, I don’t think we, as students, should either.

So are the tuition increases a good thing? Yes. It betters the university, and it makes a USU degree look that much better on a resume.

But I think we’re taking this all in a bit too fast. We can’t turn a Utah State into a Stanford in just three years. A 43 percent increase is a bit overboard in such a short time.

So, will it pass? I don’t know. Should it pass? I don’t know. But I do know there are more like my friend and his “Need $$$ for School” sign out there with there voices still unheard. Now is your turn. Take it before it’s too late.

Jon Cox is a junior majoring in journalism. Comments can be sent to jcox@cc.usu.edu.