The Observer, December 9, 2005
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 13
Tuition increase irrational; discussion doesn't placate students, only flares tempers
At a meeting this past Wednesday, Provost John Anderson addressed questions and concerns from students regarding the recent tuition increase announcement at a fireside meeting in the Village at 115.
Less than 30 students showed up. More than half of them were upperclassmen or grad students. For those students who have been living under a rock for the past two weeks (We're looking at Southside and the old dorms here), Case Western Reserve University has elected to raise current tuition by 6.48 percent. Incoming freshmen will pay 9.47 percent more than this year's tuition.
The money earned from the increase will fund faculty raises and the expansion of recreational and Varsity athletics. Also, SOURCE – (a new research experience, and favorite pet project of the administration) will get more money, as will the improvement of SAGES.
A student at the meeting posed the question: "Have we put the time and organization in to validate the amount of money spent on the program [SAGES]?" That earned a response of: "Nothing works right away, it takes some fixing," from Provost Anderson.
The money will also help with heating costs. The university will pay about 80 percent more for its energy this year – roughly $12 million dollars – because their old energy contract expired. Maybe Case should put more energy into making their buildings more energy efficient! (Oh, we went there.)
Also, seven new classrooms will be upgraded to level two. (For all you humanities majors out there, that's one below level three.) Level two classrooms have a bucket-load of goodies, including video projectors, screens, and those snazzy "technology-enhanced teaching station pulpits."
Finally, Mather will get five new classrooms, "all level two qualities," said Provost Anderson. (Levels 4-712 include soda fountains and personal masseuses for every student.)
Provost Anderson doesn't want Case to become a haven for "upper-middle and upper-class students." Unfortunately, students will still have to fork over about $2500 more next year. That might not seem so much now, but suppose it goes up another 6 percent in coming years, now you're paying an additional $5000 annually. God help you if you're a five-year engineering student.
When confronted with a question about the financial burden on parents, Anderson offered examples of how parents always pay for large expenses caused by their children. However, his reference comparing the price of a college education to a wedding seemed a little off the mark.
Anderson is more worried about the pending tuition increases affecting students receiving need-based financial aid. He would like to see a more diverse student population. He supports keeping the need-based aid proportional to current and future tuition increases. Also, he'd like to extend financial aid and scholarships to international students.
To stay competitive, colleges have to raise tuition. However, raising it annually, and in such large amounts, is against the spirit of Case. We want Case to attract the same quality students as Ivys, and to live up to the name "the most powerful learning environment in the world." However, a higher price tag won't do the trick. Raising tuition to emulate universities with which we can't compete will only alienate future students and detract from the overall quality of the university.
