Money mismanagement to blame for tuition rise

I have attended the University of Iowa since 2001. To combat the problem of annual tuition increases, every year I doled out allotted moneys in the form of financial aid, grants and work study.

But here is where I draw the line. A midyear tuition hike amid the crushing financial crisis while the college education system lies in ruins? You can't be serious.

As a student, what frustrates me is the ideas presented are being considered viable options to handle the budget crisis. Not only do a majority of these solutions hurt the hardworking students and often underpaid staff, but they also do not address the fact that students are regularly left out of financial decisions and debates. Twenty-four million dollars cut from the budget will not come easy, but heavily depending on one solution, midyear tuition, layoffs or the removal of academic programs, will not solve anything in the long term.

The University of Iowa participates in various business enterprises as well as receiving public and private funds to assist in the funding of education. It is my opinion that those funds are being grossly mismanaged. If the University of Iowa is truly concerned about the students' welfare, then put higher education over the pursuit of profit.

Brittany Hall

Iowa City