Saint Mary's and Notre Dame Board of Trustees have once again approved tuition increases, thereby passing the College and University's costs onto students. However, this is not an uncommon phenomenon in the State of Indiana, or even across the nation. Indiana University, Purdue University and Ball State have all approved tuition increases for next year.

A main component leading to the approval of tuition increases is the unprecedented higher education cuts that states, such as Indiana have approved. Because of state budget deficits there have been major cuts to in the amount of aid colleges receive, which are then passed on to students. According to The Indianapolis Star in the past two years Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon has cut $228 million in state aid to colleges, in an attempt to reduce Indiana's $850 million deficit. Currently 49 states are now facing budget deficits, which has lead to tuition increases at colleges throughout of the country and to an estimated 2 million college qualified students not being able to afford a higher education this year.

Now the State of Indiana's proposed budget cuts will begin to directly affect Indiana students as legislators look to approve a budget this week. The $22.9 billion two-year budget was approved by the Indiana House of Representative, 51-49, and will now be sent to the Indiana Senate for approval. The House Bill 1001will restore cuts made by O'Bannon that affected state colleges and universities.

As students at Saint Mary's and Notre Dame we are very much aware of the high cost of higher education and the importance of financial aid. The Independent Colleges of Indiana organization, of which both Saint Mary's and Notre Dame are members, is asking that students express the importance of state-funded financial aid to Indiana State House Representatives and State Senators. This is important as it is expected that for the first time Indiana State grant aid will not be able to cover tuition increases.

Funding for higher education institutions has not been a priority, especially in light of the State's budget deficits, but state funded aid for private institutions has become an even lover priority. It is important that State representatives realize how important state funded aid is to students. Without this aid more and more students will have to turn to private loans. Already The College Board reports that private loans increased from $1.3 billion in 1996 to $5.5 billion in 2002.

The continuingly rising cost of Indiana Colleges has not gone unnoticed by Indiana state legislators. There has been recent talk of capping college tuition costs in the State.

"If these universities continue the way they are and increase tuition to an excessive amount - and we think they have - the legislature probably will take a look at taking over the duty of establishing a percentage increase in tuition," Sen. Lawrence Borst, R

Greenwood, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee told The Indianapolis Star.

Although more worrisome is Stan Jones, Indiana's higher education commissioner, assertion that Indiana's tuition increases exceeded what was needed to compensate for state funding losses.

However, Jones' comment that tuition increases have not been solely caused by the State's recession, does not change the fact that tuition increases seem inevitable, forcing students to become ever more dependent on much needed financial aid.

• Keeping pace with tuition