FIGHT THE POWER! STUDENTS BATTLE TUITION HIKE

The Tallahassee Democrat reports this morning that student leaders at Florida's public universities are speaking out in opposition to the only fee or tax increase in Governor Bush's proposed $70.8 billion budget: An increase in tuition of five percent for in-state undergraduates and 7.5 percent for out-of-state and graduate students.

One area of particular concern is that while the governor is talking about boosting minority enrollment and diversity in the university system, the overall drop in enrollment of African-American students is primarily due to fewer out-of-state students, hit hardest by previous tuition hikes. In addition, the federal Pell Grant programme for low income students only aided 6,917 at Florida State University, and 5,845 at Florida A&M Univeristy.

And while Bush's budget calls for a 35 percent increase in financial aid to lower income students --- $35.8 million --- the proposed tuition increases are expected to hit students to the tune of $46.7 million, more than negating Bush's financial aid hike.

According to FAMU student body president Ramon J. Alexander, "They cancel each other out. You can't increase needs-based aid on one end and say you're for increased access and diversity, and on the other end increase tuition."

This is the 11th year that student tuition has gone up at Florida's public universities, and the proposal is endorsed by former schoolteacher Lt. Governor Toni Jennings:

"Tuition that the student pays covers less than 25 percent of the cost of a college education. The state, Bright Futures, all of the things that the state and the Florida taxpayers do, covers the rest of that cost - so I think it is important that tuition keep pace."

Always nice to know your state's leaders are so concerned about the ability of students to earn a higher education.