Although most of the Editorial Board is graduating in a few days, we’re happy to hear Bernie Machen’s proposed 30 percent tuition increase is now merely a dream, unlikely to come true.
We want everyone to have the same types of opportunities we’ve had while at UF, and stressing students with financial burdens doesn’t help achieve that end. It seemed like our administration was willing to rain down a perfect storm of price hikes on students, especially with block tuition gaining steam despite student protests.
We could have understood had the proposals been for either block tuition or a 30 percent increase, but hitting students with both at one time was nonsensical. We’re thinking that’s what someone told dear old Bernie to make him understand that although our students’ median household income breaks $100,000 a year, there are many who are scrounging for cash and working jobs to fund their education.
We’re not out of the woods yet, though. The price of tuition still can increase legally by 15 percent per year until we meet the national average.
It looks like no matter what we do, attending college is going to become more expensive even as Bright Futures dies a slow, painful death. Although we applaud our Machen for coming to his senses, we still have a feeling that students aren’t going to like tuition prices increasing, especially for classes they’re paying for but not taking under the block tuition plan.
