TO THE EDITOR:
Monday’s article presented the idea of offering tax breaks to families and students who pay tuition without financial aid.
Sounds simple. Tuition went up, so let’s compensate with tax relief.
However, this is merely another sly tactic by the General Assembly and their puppets on the Board of Governors to further privatize our university. BOG member Burley Mitchell claims that tuition used to pay for another student’s financial aid is “charity.”
In reality, it is a contribution to the university, the state of North Carolina and the well-being of our communities. Aid has proven to increase diversity and offer low-income students access to a higher education. Schools such as the University of Michigan saw declines in diversity after adopting a high tuition-high aid funding model.
Tax breaks for those who pay full tuition gives money back to the families generally already able to afford current rates. There will surely be families just above the financial aid criteria that will benefit, but by and large it will benefit wealthier families.
Sustainable, viable solutions to massive budget cuts from the General Assembly and tuition hikes from the Board of Governors include:
- restoring and increasing state funding by taxing corporations and the rich;
- making the $2.5 billion endowment transparent and;
