UB students reacted yesterday to the shock that their tuition, which dramatically increased this year by $950, may continue to rise each year for the duration of their college education.
On Tuesday, SUNY delegates in Albany approved a motion to reconsider the current tuition system. While SUNY did not increase tuition Tuesday, the resulting plan may lead to predictable, annual increases in tuition as early as next school year.
Student Association President George Pape said while a plan that automatically increases tuition every year is not as unfair as some may think, students should keep a watchful eye on the proposals.
"In theory that is a very solid plan," Pape said. "In practicality I'd like to know more about it before I make a final decision."
Pape said he is concerned a new plan may allow SUNY delegates and the New York State Legislature to take advantage of students, perhaps inflating tuition an unreasonable amount during years of economic downturn.
SUNY tuition had remained constant for eight years prior to the recent $950 increase, but Pape said rising mandatory student fees have made the cost of attending UB significantly higher than it used to be.
"Because of student fees, our full tuition has gone up on an annual basis for the last several years," Pape said, referring to the fact that since 1995 student fees have gone up an average of 137 percent at SUNY's four university centers, of which UB is one.
Pape said when he thinks of tuition, he thinks of the final bill - tuition plus fees. He said it is wrong the State Legislature and SUNY delegates do not take fees into consideration when contemplating tuition.
"Basically the fees penalize the poorest of the students," said Pape.
For the students Pape is referring to, an annual bump in tuition may make UB unaffordable, but to others it simply means mom and dad will have to cut a bigger check.
"I'd rather take the tuition hike five to 10 years down the road, since I won't even be in school then, " said Eric Hoffman, a freshman English major. "If you're going to have to pay eventually, you might as well put it off as long as you can"
Katie Movic, a freshman dance and psychology double major, worried that an increase in out-of-state tuition might make it difficult for her to pay her bills.
"My parents aren't paying, so that's pretty rough. Plus, I'm from out of state. I love college, but if they keep increasing the prices, I don't know if it'll be worth it anymore."
Many students like Stephanie Tien, a freshman communications major, and Jillian Burke, a freshman art history major, were vehemently against the proposed increase.
"It sucks," said Tien. "If we're going to pay more money then we should see more benefits. When I see exactly where this money is going, then I'll be willing to pay it."
"Obviously it stinks," said Burke. "College students don't have that kind of money lying around."
For a tuition increase to occur, a bill must be passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by Gov. George Pataki. Officials said no tuition increase is expected for next semester.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
