The Board of Regents is currently considering a 3.9 percent increase in your tuition.

On Wednesday morning, members of your Government of the Student Body cabinet and myself asked the Regents to keep the increase to a more reasonable level of 3 percent.

The other student governments also joined us in this effort.

I would like to let you know just what this tuition increase would mean to you.

If you are a resident of Iowa, you will pay an extra $108 for your tuition next year.

If you are an out-of-state student, you will pay an extra $344 for tuition. This increase may not seem like a lot to some of you, but you must remember that if we do not work to lower the increase this year, then next year’s increase will build off of this year’s increase.

It is an upward spiral that makes it harder for you to pay for your tuition.

As your president, I believe it is my duty to work as hard as I can and do as much as I can to lower this increase.

The facts of the matter are that inflation is not increasing anywhere close to 3.9 percent, and as our own President Jischke has said, “There’s a limit to the debt they can carry.”

Did you know the average Iowa State graduate has loans of over $17,000?

Did you also know that if you are an out-of-state student, you are not only paying for the costs of your education, you are paying an extra $769 per year over that amount?

I believe that GSB’s duty is clear.

We must work to lower this increase.

But, in order to accomplish this, we need your help.

Next week, we will announce our plan to fight this excessive tuition increase and we will be asking for your support.

Help us to help you! Please let me know what you think about this proposed tuition increase and how you would like to help by e-mailing me at [email protected]. Together, we can make it happen!

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Rob Wiese

YOUR GSB President