Assembly wants control

The separation of power between university and state is not always a clear one.\nSenate Bill 369, a proposal that would allow legislators to determine state universities' financial directions, is currently up for debate. Indiana senators consider this bill every two years, and due to opposition, the bill likely will fail again. \nThe bill would require the tuition of Indiana public universities, including IU, to be set biannually in concordance with state budgets. The bill would also restrict increases in tuition with a formula that considers income growth and cost of living. On top of these regulations, universities would be forced to notify students and parents of tuition hikes.\nThat all sounds great: keeping tuition in line with state and household budgets, letting us have a say in tuition increases and then informing us of how the extra money is budgeted. Any new increases would have to be approved by the state legislature -- our elected representatives -- not faceless university administrators. \nBut there are a few flaws in that rosy scenario. The bill appeals to college students and their families, but in actuality, the bill would hurt universities and, in turn, their students.\nOf course, universities should be held accountable for financial discipline, but they should not be held to the desires of legislators with no affiliation to the campus.\nThe bill fails to address state funding to universities. If the General Assembly reduces funding, IU and other institutions can make up the difference two ways: increase tuition or cut spending. \nIf they choose to increase tuition, the colleges would probably need to exceed the formulaic limit and would then have to undergo approval by the state legislature. That approval is, by no means, guaranteed, and the entire process written into this bill holds too great a potential for a few crusading state legislators to punish a university, such as IU, which pursues research or other endeavors. The Kinsey Institute, for example, could be deprived of university financial support under the bill's stipulations.\nIf colleges choose to restrict spending to make up a drop in state funding, IU's reputation wouldn't be the only casualty. Our education will be less complete when an already-squeezed institution's budget is further curtailed by the General Assembly's whims.\nThis bill reeks of zealous legislative oversight on colleges and their students.\nMicromanagement from Indianapolis of a massive public university system is a recipe for inefficiency and needless politicking. This bill would allow the legislature to control funding, and thus unfairly exert influence over all university affairs. \nIU already holds public hearings on tuition increases, and we commend the University for listening to public sentiment, despite the fact that it is not required to do so by the law. The state should realize that these schools are capable of garnering public opinion without its intervention. \nWhile rising tuition is an important issue of concern to the entire state and especially to us students, the legislature overriding trustees and administrators will not make Indiana's higher education system stronger.