I attended IPFW's annual Legislative Issues Luncheon on Tuesday. Several NE Indiana state legislators were congratulated for being generous with other people's money, and were given IPFW tote bags. The food was great. While I think that it is great that IPFW is expanding, I am more concerned that IPFW will lose its role as a place for returning adults. I started out as a traditional student at the age of 18 and graduated as a returning adult at the age of 26. Specifically, I am worried about rising tuition rates. Many traditional students can rely on student loans, grants, or wealthy parents to pay for that pre-law degree. Cashiers, waiters, and security guards who work full time and attend classes part time cannot keep up with tuition rates that go up faster than inflation. I propose that all universities that receive state funding be required to keep their tuition rates tied in with inflation.
I thought about bringing that up during the luncheon, but I decided to let the incumbents have their moment. Because today I get to have my moment! Today is the day of the 80th District State Rep debate, which will take place at South Side High School at 7pm in Lecture Room B-109. Last night I had several of my supporters ask me questions as practice.
I will see you tonight!
ReplyDeleteMike Sylvester
Robert,
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading how you kicked some arse at the debate! I will be with you in spirit.
One Radical Libbe-tarian
Sorry but you looked like a boy amoung men last night. Your sound byte on WANE gave it away when you began with the word "like". Maybe after you grow up you can run for this office again.
ReplyDeleteI'm 27. I can rent a car, vote, own a gun, buy fireworks, drink, smoke, and run for office. Sorry if "like" is not like the four letter words other politicians use.
ReplyDeleteBTW, real men use their real names, Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteMaybe once anonymous grows up, he/she can come back and post an actual comment on your blog...
ReplyDeleteWhether or not your idea of having colleges that receive State support being required to keep tuition in line with inflation is a good idea or not, it certainly doesn't seem to be a Libertarian one. In a Libertarian world, there would be no State supported colleges to begin with. Also, in a Libertarian world, a government would not be trying to control the cost of anything. If you require IPFW and other to keep tuition low, aren't you just increasing the pressure for them to demand more State support to accomplish that very thing. Beware the law of unintended consequences!
ReplyDeleteState universities and public schools are firmly entrenched institutions. They will continue to be nessesary as long as excessive taxation and regulations continue to keep people from being able to afford to pay for their children's education.
ReplyDeleteI do think that children would be better served by private schools, whether they be secular or religious, non-profit or for-profit. Public schools have to appease all sorts of competing and conflicting interest groups, and are forced to be bland to avoid offending anybody.
Still, the transition from a dependence on a public school system will take longer than two years. Even if Rex Bell and I get elected, we will only make up 2% of the State House of Representatives. We would be in a poor position to advocate sweeping reforms, but we will still be in an effective position to offer ideas.
That being said, as long as a university is funded by the state, I will see to it that it serves the interests of the people. I believe that the people's interests are best served by as many students being educated at the lowest cost possible by these universities. I will give state colleges the options of either keeping their costs under control while accepting as many students as possible or become fully private institutions.