4A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
WEDNESDAY,DEC.5,2001
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KNIGHT RIDDER TRIBUNE
EDITORIAL
Tuition increase needed to keep us competitive
Students cannot rely on legislature to pay the way
In the near future, KU students will face a significant tuition increase. Although the administration has yet to decide upon a specific proposal, higher tuition is a necessity if the University of Kansas wants to continue providing first-rate higher education.
Chancellor Hemenway has indicated that the state budget director will not recommend any new funding for higher education this year. As a result, the Kansas Board of Regents, that oversees the state's public universities, has requested that all six institutions consider tuition-increase proposals.
The University is now lagging $50 million behind the average for its peer institutions in funding for operating expenses, salaries, and benefits. These peer universities include schools such as the University of Iowa and the University of Colorado. Provost David Shulenburger has also said that all of the University's peer institutions will see 5- to 10-percent increases in tuition each year.
To close the gap with its peers, the University must increase revenue by $50 million. Because of new tuition-retention and block-grant policies instituted by the state legislature, the University can keep excess tuition receipts. As such, the simplest solution to the University's funding problem is a large-scale tuition increase.
Opponents of this solution argue that it would deter many potential students from considering or applying to KU. Although the University could potentially lose many low-income students, it would gain others through scholarships and an improved public image. Administrators have said that 20 percent of the net revenue generated by a tuition increase would be set aside for student financial aid. Likewise, desirable improvements the University could make with higher operating funds might lure otherwise unattainable students.
Regrettably, students in the state of Kansas can no longer depend on the state government to support higher education. In times of waning revenues and operating funds, state lawmakers have been forced to narrow down their priorities, and education has not made the cut.
The University's options are simple. The administration can submit a significant tuition-increase proposal and continue to provide students with a first-rate education, or the University can yield to the priorities of lawmakers.
This issue boils down to a question of self-determination: Should KU entrust lawmakers with its best interests, or should its administration take over the reigns?
The answer to this question is obvious. For the University to simply accept a decrease in operating funds would be contrary to its mission as an institution of higher learning.
The state of Kansas deserves a first-class public university. Like a college student paying his way through school, KU should learn to subsist without the help of its guardians. Matt Hubbard for the editorial board.
PERSPECTIVE
Put your two cents in now, or pay later in high tuition
It seems that it isn't just the University classified staff that is faced with significant financial woes because of state budget restrictions ("Swept into Poverty," Nov. 28). Unlike classified staff, however, the University has the power to circumvent budget restrictions and raise students' tuition costs to offset a declining economy and decreased state allocation to the University.
The administration recently unveiled six proposals for significant tuition hikes that would be effective next fall and to continue over the next four to six years. The proposal for the highest increase would double tuition for the freshman and sophomore classes of 2003, and would include an increase for all students by 2006.
The proposals were originally drafted in accordance with a request from the Kansas Board of Regents, which requested that other institutions of higher learning in Kansas consider similar tuition increases. Kansas State University is also entertaining similar tuition increases.
The administration cites a number of reasons for the higher cost of tuition and need for a tuition increase. Executive Vice Chancellor Janet Murgia notes that KU is consistently and severely under-funded as compared with its peer universities, such as Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado.
Murguia said that although the University was trying to maximize funding from research grants and private donations, state budget constraints demand that the University raise tuition costs to narrow the gap.
The key areas named by the administration that the new revenue would
Allitas
Sayeed
Columnist
opinionsakansan.com
Commentary
be invested include expediting online enrollment, improving classroom computing and laboratory instrumentation, improving library services and providing better wages for staff and student workers. Plans for the new money also include supporting excellent faculty, increasing departmental operating expense budgets, expanding computer network capacity and enhancing school curriculum.
The University has also promised that 20 percent of the revenue generated by any tuition increase would go to student financial aid and scholarships.
Undoubtedly, these are all worthy objectives and the administration's goal of using the tuition increase to improve student learning is to be commended.
Yet, even with the knowledge that the University is facing a significant money crunch, the extent of the tuition increase comes as a surprise to many students and faculty who didn't contribute to the drafting.
Even members of student governance were left in the dark about the nature and details of all six of the proposals. Even for those who thought a tuition increase was imminent, the potential tuition increases have caught many off guard.
Now, the administration says we are
in the middle of a "campus-wide dialogue" about proposals the University should support. Given the size of the tuition increase, student participation would have been most helpful while the proposals were being formed.
Despite students' lack of involvement in the drafting of the proposals, it is imperative that all students, even those of us who are graduating, attend the meetings scheduled for 4:15 to 6 p.m. Monday at 110 Budig and from 3 to 4:15 p.m. Tuesday at 5139 Wescoe
These forums provide space for students to pose questions about the proposals such as: Given the outlined set of University objectives, how will tuition increases be allocated under each proposal?
Are there other ways to raise this money? Will graduate teaching assistants and classified staff receive a raise?
Most importantly, even with the 20 percent allocation for student aid and scholarships, will the tuition hikes make the University inaccessible for some students?
It is critical that students play a central role in picking which proposal the University should choose and in determining exactly where our money is going.
Students should pose these and other questions to Provost Shulenburger and other members of the administration during the open-forum meetings.
Sayeed is a Wichita senior in women's studies, international studies and philosophy.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
NOT FAIR TO RELIGIOUS GROUPS
The main outside "expert" quoted in the story is associated with the American Family Foundation, an advocacy group that agitates against religions of which it disproves; the "expert" himself (whose credentials I have been unable to locate) espouses views that are, to say the least, not shared by most scholars who study alternative religions.
The Kansan's article on the Brethren and Jayrock religious groups (November 27) was a bit troubling in that it perpetuated a number of unfortunate stereotypes about nonmainstream religious organizations.
Dear editor.
Many in the AFF, for example, argue that "cults" engage in "brainwashing" or "mind control," whereas academics who have investigated that matter in depth have concluded that such phenomena are essentially mythical.
The word "cult" in popular usage is a pejorative term that cannot be meaningfully defined.
Religious organizations that violate the law should be reported to the police; those that are simply unconventional should enjoy the same freedom of religion that the larger, more established groups do.
professor of religious studies
FOREIGN EXCHANGES POSITIVE Dear editor,
As someone who is currently in charge of a student exchange program between Haskell and a Russian university, I was actually horrified at the tone of the Journal-World piece. Thank you for putting things in perspective for your readers. I hope that you will continue to educate the University and the community of Lawrence on the value of international exchanges.
I would like to congratulate you on the editorial this morning responding to the Journal-World opinion piece on international students. The editorial did a wonderful job addressing the issues.
Cynthia Annett
Sciences Program Director
TALK ABOUT PRACTICAL SEX Dear editor,
Sex columns in the paper are a great thing as long as it is not from a "horn
dog's" power value "their confidence
Talk about how to protect and please at the same time, STDs and why protection is necessary. Does anyone know the percentage of students with STDs on campus? I don't. Wouldn't you like to know if Mr. No Name or Ms. Faceless from the party has something that you didn't want to share?
most recent articles should be choosing better topics. Don't you think lovers can find a G-spot? Isn't that the point of experimenting? If you want to write a sex column promoting pleasure (I'm not against it), add a side note: "Make sure to protect yourself." Better yet, talk about a topic that pertains to most of the student body.
Where can one go to get tested (anonymously or otherwise)? Wouldn't you rather know something important than something you can figure out yourself or with your love?
Not everyone on campus needs to be told that sex feels good or "not to be afraid to experiment." You can still have fun while being safe. Write more on the real issues. Think about it. Being horny doesn't mean being naive.
Rebecca Narvaez
Costa Mesa, Calif. sophomore
FREE for ALL 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Not all of them will be published. Slanderous and obscane statements will not be printed.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
Hey! We're calling the Free for All opinion line!
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I just heard the best lesbian story I've ever heard.
What the hell is an Imperial Stormtrooper, and what do they look like?
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nate people who lose things and then come and ask for replacements.
Bicycles do not belong in a barbecue pit
If it rained candy canes, the sky would be red and white
Don't you make fun of me.
I'm a guy, I watch Dawson's Creek, like
Dawson's Creek, is that so wrong?
If you want cowboys, then go to K-State.
Oh, so this is the Free for All? I like what you've done with the furniture.
Sixty-two percent tuition increase? You think a good football coach is going to cost that much?
Did you know that if you turn the word "boob" upside down, you get the word "poop."
What's with this *Oracle thing*? Anyone who non-Greek really doesn't give a crap, so it's just a waste of paper.
If you like cowboys, KJHK has cowboys
Please stop the Free for All. The downward spiral is painful.
When I see all the tour guides on campus, I know it's time to start looking for next year's freshman girls.
猫
Instead of raising tuition, maybe KU shouldn't spend so much money on all their seasonal flowers.
Those hillsbillies done stole away all my whiskey.
Next semester, I think the UDKshould combine the sex column and the film critic and just have a porn critic.
I hope that when I die, people will say, "That guy sure owed me a lot of money."
Have you been to Hell? I have. It's in Corbin.
It's damn hot in here! Someone turn on the air conditioner!
I was just talking to my roommate, and we both hate our sororites. Why don't we drop out already?
筛
To the boy who followed me across campus today on the way to class: Stalking is illegal.
There's an easier way to solve the problem with crappy seating at Allen Fieldhouse. Just out a roof over Memorial Stadium.
I know a bowl the football team could go to, since everyone else is going to a bowl. They can go to the toilet bowl.
To the guy who says he's single. I'm the girl who needs a date for her birthday. Let's hook up.
图
Why do boys suck so much? They have a genetic defect called the Y chromosome.
make me flexible?
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I think I'll make a newsletter for only non- greek people and put it in the UDK.
I ooke to ten eleven everyday that today is my mother's birthday. Happy birthday, mom
I wonder if the people in Naismith watch the people in Olive as much as we watch them.
Our friend is locked in the Corbin 1 South bathroom, but there's no lock on the door, so we don't know how to get her out. Help us!
KU Housing Department sucks.
To the girl on lowa who asked us if we needed help with out flat tire: Thanks so much, you rock our world.
What kind of moronic administration would raise tuition during a recession?
It's not wrong to say bong. Bong, bong,
bong, bong.
KJ info couldn't find us a male strip club.
Thanks for nothing.
We've decided that KU needs a dating service.
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The only reason people went to the Linkin Park concert is because they couldn't afford to go to the U2 concert.
2.
My puppy just ate a pack of cigarettes.
What do I do?