Boo to the massive tuition increases approved yesterday by the Arizona Board of Regents and to the lack of effort to stop them. ABOR passed ASU’s tuition proposal Thursday, but not without combining the surcharge with tuition and shattering the model of predictable increases.
ASU originally proposed a 5 percent tuition increase plus a $1,025 “economic recovery surcharge.” In that case, the University could tell us it was sticking to the predictability model because “tuition” was only 5 percent more for continuing students and the surcharge was separate. Now that there is no surcharge, the University has no loopholes allowing it to claim a commitment to predictability.
Looking strictly at tuition — without the surcharge we pay this year — that means tuition for incoming freshmen will be 30 percent more next fall than it was for incoming freshmen last fall. For continuing resident undergraduates, the overall cost to attend this University will go up about 13 percent. Who can say they saw that one coming? Who can say they’re confident it won’t happen again?
ASU proposed its commitment to predictability in 2007 as a way to “[give] families predictability while enabling the University to keep pace with other top public research universities.”
But just as frustrating is the student government’s approach to what is arguably the biggest issue for students at this University. Only one of ASU’s five student presidents attended ABOR’s meeting Thursday. While we give props to Undergraduate Student Government President Brendan O’Kelly for showing up, we can’t help but feel that, considering student government leaders get paid with our money, they could have taken the time to show up at the meeting. It did not require going above and beyond their basic job descriptions, though that would have helped. The fact is that we elect student leaders — if nothing else — to speak for students when it comes to tuition. Some presidents sent people in their absence, but for only one of five top leaders to attend the meeting is insulting to the students they are supposed to represent.
Throughout this uphill battle, administrators and student leaders have continually blamed the Arizona Legislature for putting ASU students in the lurch. Yes, the Legislature is responsible for massive cuts to education, but finding a scapegoat is easy. Student leaders should not be towing the administration’s PR line on this issue. President Michael Crow certainly has a mesmerizing way with words — spend a few hours with him and you’ll be willing give up your life savings for the good of the cause. But student governments should have the willpower to see through this fog. Are they representing you or Crow? If our student leaders aren’t in Crow’s pocket, it’s hard to tell where exactly they are.
If you’re resigned to the thought that a strong student voice means nothing, consider the University of Arizona. Organized protests and a uniform voice among student leaders led UA President Robert Shelton to lower the surcharge portion of his proposal by $400 and cut mandatory fees requests in half. Last year, Shelton and Crow both lowered their surcharge requests following several significant protests. After that, it’s not hard to believe they proposed such high figures this year expecting to save the day by slashing them at the last minute.
Regardless of Crow’s talking points, soaring tuition means the University will begin pricing people out of an education. Financial aid won’t solve the problem. Clearly student representatives and the administration won’t either.
On that note …
Bravo to spring break. With all that free time, maybe you pick up some extra shifts to help pay tuition next year.
