TO THE EDITOR:
The University of North Carolina’s commitment to excellence, longevity and the people is a point of pride for this state. From the beginning, UNC’s founders promised to commit to education by making tuition as free as possible. With another round of tuition hikes due to state budget cuts, is the University putting its reputation and mission at risk? The University needs to cease raising tuition and start seeking out private donors willing to support the University. If UNC wishes to uphold its mission of affordable education for all, the University should start seeking out alumni and friends to cough up some dollars, proving their pride and support.
The latest news of another possible tuition increase of nearly $3,000 in the next couple of years is dismaying. While tuition hikes save programs and increase the paychecks of well-deserving professors, the burden falls on the students who end up with increased debt — already an average of $25,250. Because of increased financial burden coupled with high unemployment rates among the college-educated and the troubling economy, the next generation will be carrying a huge economic weight. Increasing tuition only means encumbering a burden that is much too big already.
Funding is needed for the institution. The quality of the institution will suffer without funding. Either way students suffer — increased tuition or poor quality of education. To prevent suffering for both the University and the students, private funding is the way out of this financial hole. UNC needs to look to alumni and other proud people who don the sky blue attire. The University ought to invest in seeking out donors who will donate their funds. We need to look toward the 1 percent for private donations.
Kate Noël
Graduate Student
Social Work
