I would like to thank A. Sho Ikeda (“Funding reduced by $15 million for University,” ODE, Oct. 21) for bringing attention to the unfortunate and dire state of funding for public higher education in Oregon. Amazingly, tuition and fees for Oregon in-state undergraduates surged 15.7 percent from the 2002-03 academic school year to the 2003-04 year. For out-of-state undergraduates, the rise was 6.89 percent. (Taken from “Estimated Expenses — Cost of Attendance” at http://financialaid.uoregon.edu.)
In a September statement from the Office of the Chancellor at Oregon University Systems, the president of the State Board of Higher Education remarked: “The growing share of college costs that students are bearing should be a major concern to all Oregonians. In 1999-2001, students and the state split the cost almost 50-50 … for 2003-05, students are covering 64 percent of the cost of education.” (http://www.ous.edu/news/press/091903).
Say what? Last I checked, the idea of public education was that it was publicly funded, but the reality is that the majority of the burden is now on students. Now, the student community may have to brace again for another hike.
In Ikeda’s article, Vice President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Davis said that the administration will explore “all possibilities” in dealing with budget shortfalls. Praytell, Ms. Davis, does “all possibilities” mean dealing with outdated facilities and buildings? Higher student-faculty ratios? Smaller or absent pay increases for deserving faculty, staff and graduate teaching fellows that work so hard to give us a quality education? Does this mean another tuition surcharge? Another tuition increase of nearly 16 percent? If “all possibilities” includes any of these options, I can resolutely say that I, and many of my fellow students, will be paying more money for a poorer-quality education.
I implore my fellow students to become involved in resisting tuition hikes. Galvanize your disdain for budget shortfalls and speak up; after all, it’s our money running this place. Our voices must count for something because money talks.