I am writing in response to the column regarding the recent raise of student fees by the UC Regents (“Fee increase rational budgetary remedy,” July 7). While a fee increase is practically expected, even mandated by the continually increasing costs associated with education, what truly irks me is the $40 million to $50 million loan – the costs of which will be passed on to out-of-state students in what will be the fourth (or is it the fifth?) increase in the past two years.
While students may bemoan a 25 percent increase this year, they forget about the increases of out-of-state fees over the past two years – through no fault of the Daily Bruin’s one-sided reporting. When I first entered UCLA in fall 2001, the quarterly tuition and fees amounted to just slightly over $5,000 per quarter. At the start of the 2002-2003 year, our fees were increased 10 percent. In the spring quarter, they increased another 6 percent – to a final tuition of slightly over $5,800 per quarter. Add on top of that the 25 percent increase for next year, and we’re paying $7,288 per quarter. Oh, and how about the likely 5 percent increase on top of that? We’re looking at a new total of $7,653 each quarter. That’s nearly $23,000 a year.
Now add the $50 million loan to be repaid in 5 years. So now we’re looking at a likely total cost of nearly $26,000 a year. And we’re not even adding in the cost of housing, or the cost of moving. Compare that to the $4,794 residents are paying. The UC Students Association keeps lobbying for lower or constant fees, but apparently only for resident students.
People argue that out-of-staters should pay higher fees because we don’t pay state taxes. OK, so maybe we haven’t paid $10,000 in taxes to the state over the past 18 years. But we’re paying the sales tax and our pay checks are being taxed. Why? Because as far as the state is concerned, we are citizens.
There will be a time when the cost/benefit of a UC education will no longer outweigh the cost/benefit of private schools. When that time comes, we’ll see the out-of-state enrollment plummet from its already measly 6 percent or so to levels so low we might as well not be considered a demographic anymore. Students will lose a valuable component of their educational experience: geographic diversity, which encompasses every single kind of diversity UC strives for. Can the UC really afford to lose us? With the way fees are going, I guess the answer is yes.
Mark Chen Third-year, molecular, cell, developmental biology