Speech: Paper 2

We are fighting together with the administration to endorse higher education. This was the overarching theme of Pres. Elson Floyd's Town Hall Meeting in the CUB Auditorium on Feb. 3.

For nearly the past year, Washington State University has been dealing with the impending budget cuts and attempting to maintain quality education at an affordable cost, while continuing to employ highly educated faculty.

One of the ways WSU is trying to manage the tuition increase is through Bill 6562. This bill would allow the University of Washington, Washington State, and Western Washington University to set its own tuition. However, according to Floyd, the issue dwells in who should have that responsibility within the institution.

"We have maintained that it really should reside within the board of regents," Floyd said.

Floyd thinks it is important for the university to "appropriately price the products we deliver." According to the information the administration has now, Bill 6562 has a 50/50 chance of passing legislature.

"We have students who are around the table when we set housing and dining rates, we have students who are around the table when we set S & A fees. It seems only logical and intuitive to me to have students around the table when we set tuition," Floyd said.

If passed, this bill would allow students the opportunity to have an opinion in setting tuition cost; for many students this issue hits home.

"I think the budget cuts are unfai as a student who pays for my own tuition. I think President Floyd is handling the situation appropriately because I think students should have a say," Junior, General Studies Major, Carlie A. Halstrom said. "I also think it should be up to the university anyways to establish the cost of tuition."

Another issue that affects students is the potential cuts to financial aid. According to Sam Chadwick, responsible for legislative affairs for ASWSU, work study and need based grants have been slated for entire suspension or severe reduction of funding. Floyd reassured students that the administration is trying to make state legislators understand that these programs are vital.

"I think that with the budget cuts, it is going to make it very difficult for students to afford school and living," Senior, Liberal Arts Major, Derek T. Baer said.

Ultimately, Floyd wants what's best for the students, administration and faculty members and stresses that although we are in a financial crisis no decisions have been made to raise tuition, allow furlough's, and lower educational standards at this institution.

"There is no way possible that this administration can balance this budget on the backs of [the students] through the form of tuition... the state has the obligation and responsibility to make sure that they provide their fair share of the educational costs," Floyd said. "We simply cannot live in a world where we have a 14 percent tuition increase. That's not fair to our students."

Sources:
Ryan J. Peterson: Ryanoone24@hotmail.com
Carlie A. Halstrom: carlieann@hotmail.com
Derek T. Baer: derektbaer@gmail.com

Questions:
1. How do you think tuition increases will affect enrollment at this institution?
2. Is there anything students can do locally to educate and promote awareness of the budget cut issues and what that means for students in general and for those on need based financial aid or work study.
3. Why can't the legislature make up their budget cuts by cutting the budgets of other state funded organizations instead of education?