Thank you for your pleasant email. But cut the crap.

This Tuesday, UNC System President Erskine Bowles passed a plan that
will increase NCSU student tuition by $750, on top of the pre-approved
$150 hike approved earlier this year. Collectively, students are
looking at a $900 increase in tuition, thereby bearing 80 percent of
the University?s $20 million burden.

I just received your email informing me of this new tuition increase. I appreciate your condolences and acknowledging that “a tuition increase of this magnitude, especially so close to
the beginning of the year, is not the news you wanted to hear.” No joke. But what really warmed my heart was this:

In meeting the state’s budget needs, the legislature had little choice
but to reduce budgets for state-supported institutions and agencies. Recognizing that another deep budget cut would further threaten
academic quality, the legislature gave the state’s universities the
ability to raise tuition rates and use the dollars to slow the academic
erosion.

So, I guess the legislature “had little choice” but to approve almost $550 million dollars worth of UNC capital improvement projects in SB 1154. The projects at NCSU include renovation of our student center and the addition of townhouses in Greek Village, totaling CORRECTION: $145,000,000.

As a senior at NC State and a member of Greek Life, I am baffled by this. Okay, our student center is old, almost 40 years old and built at a time when the school had only 14,000 students. However, the student body has already voted and rejected the renovation and expansion. Though not spacious, the center does have up-to-date technology, comfortable furniture, and an acceptable design. 

Greek Village is already under a massive renovation with the primary funding coming from alumni, the university, and the campus organizations itself.  These townhouses were part of the initial vision of the new Greek Village. I am confused as to why the state is now paying for them? My only guess is lack of funding support. The townhouses sound great in theory, but in reality, no one will use them and they are NOT necessary. Most Greek organizations require members to live in the houses for at least a year to pay the housing costs and even longer if you are in an executive position. Then, most move into housing off-campus, such as a house or an apartment. Options for living around campus are numerous and there is no real demand for more housing near Greek Village. They have no reason to be close by their sorority or fraternity house anymore. If budgets are so tight, why don’t we keep this money instead of wastefully spending? 

Also, if the University expects its students to contribute more, we should get back just as much as we give. Please tell me what I’m getting back. You know, something I actually WANT?

Peace and blessings,

 

Beth Kincaid