After reading your editorial on Nov. 4, 2002, entitled "Increases Are Necessary for Quality Education," we felt that the position of the State University of New York Student Assembly needed clarification. The SUNY SA's position with regards to SUNY tuition is twofold.
First, we believe that a reasonable, rational based tuition increase plan needs to be established so that today's students are not paying debts incurred by those who have already graduated. In other words, sporadically increasing tuition by say $700 or $1000 every seven or so years just isn't an efficient way for the State University to operate. This tuition plan must also account for fees which, as you accurately reported, are not covered by TAP and thus negatively impact those who need assistance most. It is our position that as general tuition is increased, independent campuses should rely substantially less on broad-based fees and therefore strict fee caps should be instituted system-wide.
Secondly, as tuition for SUNY students increases, so must state support. What you neglected to report in your editorial is that historically, when tuition has been increased, the state has diminished its support for SUNY, and consequently the system doesn't receive the fiscal boost you have portrayed. Should New York students carry the fiscal burden of the university system when our state government continues to cut its funding, while our socio and economic peer institutions at Texas and California already offer a comparable education at a much lower tuition rate? After taking all these factors into account, only when a rational tuition plan that ties in fees and continued state support is not considered, does the SUNY SA maintain a "no tuition increase" position.
As always, your UB SUNY SA delegates are available to personally discuss this important issue with you at greater length. Our office is located at 250 Student Union.
George H. Pape, Jr., Anthony Burgio, Katie Walsh, Yesenia Diaz, Chris Oliver
