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SUNNY Temp: 31 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Friday, February 7, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 28, 2003 SOU students say costs may drive them to leave By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune Faced with increasing tuition and fewer class offerings, Southern Oregon University students find themselves caught in a budget crunch that may force them out. "I’m leaving and going to a different state because they keep raising the costs and cutting programs," said sophomore Ashley Yamoda, a resident of Hawaii. "It’s harder to get the classes you want. Whatever edge SOU had, it’s almost about equal to any school now. I’ll probably go to San Diego." As a nonresident undergraduate, Yamoda this fall would face a $350 per term tuition hike. Costs for resident undergraduates are scheduled to go up $98 a term. For graduate students, it’s $180 for residents and $450 for nonresidents. "A lot of students are living paycheck to paycheck, and that’s half the rent," said education graduate student Lisa Jones. The proposed increases are contained in the most likely of several "models" SOU is studying, said Ron Bolstad, SOU vice president for administration and finance. All of them are contingent on state revenues and the Legislature’s attempts to bring PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) costs under control. In April, SOU will present its proposal to the Oregon University System for approval. "What it means is less money for living expenses and leisure, and longer loan payoffs," said senior Jonathan Lewis, a major in music business. "As I pay more, my program gets hurt more. They’re not offering the Business of Music, a class I need to culminate my degree — and computers in music was taught by an adjunct (non-faculty) teacher, not a professor." "Freshmen have to register last and so it’s almost impossible for us now to get into general education classes," said student Emily Heiver. "We shouldn’t have to pay as much if that’s going to happen." Sociology junior and wrestler Waylon Alsbury said he’s "just getting by" while tuition and fees rise on every front. "I see a lot of cuts in both athletics and scholarly programs," Alsbury said. "We have fewer trainers. Teachers are talking about it a lot. I have no choice but to pay it, but I’m glad I’m a junior, so I can finish up and be on my way." Associated Students President Danielle McNeill said "confusion, frustration and disappointment" characterize the mood of students. McNeill, along with other student leaders, received a budget presentation last week from SOU President Elizabeth Zinser and Diane Brimmer, vice president for student affairs. "Budget cuts and tuition hikes are a nasty mix," said McNeill. "We’re paying more for less. The tuition increases are going to be dramatic over the next two years — in the double digits (meaning a 10 percent or more increase) whether Measure 28 passes or not." Because of declining class selections, students are having to do "careful strategic planning" to get the classes they need in the time before they graduate, McNeill said. As SOU grapples with a $4.89 million shortfall, it is considering a 10 percent tuition increase in the first year of the state’s biennium (mid-2003 to mid-2004) and 5 percent in the second year, said Bolstad. "The worst-case scenario is a 15 percent hike in the first year, depending on state revenues," he said. That’s more bad news for students already feeling the pinch. "Students are having a lot of resistance to the tuition increases," said dormitory resident assistant Luke Cronin, a junior in photography. "For students working hard at three jobs, the loss of that money will make a huge impact. They’d be a lot happier if they saw the money going into more faculty, but it’s not." Along with tuition increases, undergraduates face a $60 spring term surcharge, while resident graduate students will pay a $20 surcharge. If Measure 28 fails, undergrads must pay an additional $50 surcharge for winter and spring terms. John Darling is a free-lance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S