The Board of Regents decided to delay any discussion on the expected tuition increases for the 2010-2011 school year until their February meeting Wednesday.

The move makes some sense, on their part — the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference, which sparked the $24.5 million cut we faced just a few months ago, meets next Friday, and the “Legislative Services Agency” has predicted the state will already come $1.07 billion short of its projected revenues in Fiscal Year 2011.

So the Regents are trying to avoid making a decision before they have all the facts — a move any good debate coach will tell you is a good idea.

Our concern comes in the fact that the State Legislature will have reconvened in early January — before we’re even back from break.

We think this spring may be one of the most important times for students to raise their voices in support of the land-grant institution — quality, affordable education.

Our fear is that silence on the part of this student body may be the final nail in the coffin of public education in this state.

Things aren’t as bad here as they are in California, where students have risen up against the idea of paying hundreds and thousands of dollars more for their education in the coming semesters, but they could turn that direction, and it’s about time to consider standing up for ourselves when it comes to the politicians deciding what’s important to them next spring.

There are so many qualities that have drawn us to this university; it would be a shame to see these opportunities fall beyond the reach of future generations.