On Friday, the State Board of Regents issued a recommendation to raise tuition at Iowa’s three state universities by 3.9 percent next year.

This increase would amount to a $108 jump in yearly costs to attend these schools.

The Regents say this hike in tuition is needed to help pay for rising costs in higher education.

This increase is also accompanied by a 7.75% rise in university budgets next year. R. Wayne Richey, the Board of Regents Executive Director, said that taxpayers will help pay for the costs.

In other words, students will pay more to go to school and more of their tax dollars will pay for school.

This amounts to a double dip into students’ wallets. It is abominable.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the twelve months ending in July, inflation rose only 2.2%. If the Regents rose tuition only at the rate of inflation — which they SHOULD be doing — you would only pay for about a $60 increase. That’s 48 extra dollars a year of students’ money.

The talk of the Regents about rising costs is becoming boresome, yet they don’t consider administrators’ exorbitant salaries as “rising costs.”

President Jischke makes almost $200,000 a year!

The President of the United States only earns $200,000!

Why don’t we try cutting costs instead of the old “tax and spend” routine?

Asking alumni to donate their money for these costs is a better idea.

Using contributions to make school improvements is certainly more important than using $6 million to build a press box/skybox/monolith for Jack Trice Stadium.

It’s time the Board of Regents stop using vague reasons for their actions, and start listening to the needs of students.