I am writing regarding Melody Bianchetto's comments about next year's tuition hikes ("Tuition rates likely to rise for next year," April 28). First of all, I am not going to pretend to be fully knowledgeable about the financial and practical concerns regarding state and University budgetary priorities. The reasoning Bianchetto gives for the tuition hikes, 9.9 percent for in-state undergrads, is that reduced state funding to public universities places the financial burden on the University. That makes perfect sense to me, and I have absolutely no problem with it.
However, Bianchetto apparently felt the need to opine about the state's budgetary tactics. "Unfortunately," Ms. Bianchetto interjected, "the state of Virginia does not make higher education as big of a priority" as other states, such as North Carolina and Florida. Not "as big of a priority?" Excuse me. Aside from the fact that this is an excessively broad statement, it is also unwarranted posturing that was not necessary in referring to how our families will be affected by state fiscal policy. To begin with, I would argue that one of the reasons the University of Virginia has become so successful is precisely because it is not as dependent on state funding as other universities in the Commonwealth. Second, even if the state decided to increase funding for all public universities, the University has chosen not to depend on the funding that much. Third, to compare the "education priorities" of our state, my state, to other states is downright questionable to say the least. I do not know about North Carolina's or Florida's fiscal conditions at this time. However, I consider myself informed enough to know that the state of California, a state with a multitude of highly regarded and prestigious universities, is not exactly an exemplified beacon of financial strength and responsibility right now; the state is broke. Maybe that is because by "prioritizing" education and other areas in which to pigeon-hole tax dollars, they actually meant spending the citizens' tax dollars to exhaustion, rather than allowing universities the leeway to make their own decisions.
Like I said, I am nowhere near qualified to discuss the monetary priorities of the University, and I have full faith for, respect for and confidence in Bianchetto. As a mere student, I feel that I am able to trust in the University's justification for tuition hikes. But if I were Bianchetto, I would be careful to assess blame for our tuition troubles. Besides the fact that some of the few spending decisions that I know about are questionable - such as the new screen at the football stadium, as if I'd want to see our team stink up the field in high-definition - there is more than one way for state budgets to "prioritize" education. My sole point for this letter is that to dismiss those who have other ways of prioritizing education as not caring enough about education is pretty insulting, especially when it comes from someone of such respectable, professional stature and expertise.\n\nJeremy Lambert\nCLAS IV
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