Reading Response 1

While reading the many articles about the transformation of our public universities it is difficult to not have a strong opinion about the exploitation of the students and the misleading facts about where our tuition money is going. Our universities are more importantly a profit gaining organization than an educational facility. The UC schools, under Mark Yudoff, have become primarily an “every-man-for-himself,” profit-focused system that does not allow for students the option to receive the best possible education at the most affordable cost. Instead, students are paying tuition more and more like private school but having fewer resources, small classes and financial aid assistance. My first instinct when hearing about the fee increases was to ask “where is this money going?” If myself and 20,000 other students are paying close to $4,000 a quarter why don’t our professors deserve to be paid competitive salaries to establish a better qualified teaching staff? Why shouldn’t every student be guaranteed that the classes they need will be available for them and not necessarily in 500 person lecture halls? And why shouldn’t there be less concern about turning a profit and more concern over turning out an enthusiastic, well-prepared and competitive work force? When I read about how much of our money is being gambled away in the risky market investments and unnecessary construction projects it is hard to not feel used. It should be the cost of tuition is at its bare minimum that would allow any potential qualified and interested student have the option of receiving a four-year degree.