RE: Lawmakers want to slow tuition hikes at Texas public universities

In Elaine’s blog, she talks about how Texas Legislature has put a stop to the rapid increase of tuition in Texas Universities. While I do agree with what Elaine is saying, we should all look at a very important fact that Legislature failed to come across when they allowed the universities to determine their own tuition. Like any other organization a university is a business. It makes money like any other business, has employees and has an input and output of merchandise, but-more rather- it is people instead of merchandise. Universities offer advancement in knowledge to students a priceless tool that benefits them in terms of advancing in careers and having basic knowledge to survive and prosper in life. Since they are a business, their goal will be to make money. Without restrictions holding them down, they will attempt to milk as much money out of their customers in order to make a profit. Legislature should have thought about this whole scenario before giving them the ability to abuse the freedom. If they wanted to raise the tuition on students, they should have also increased the number of scholarships given by public institutions in order to assist students who cannot meet the necessary fees. Public institutions are stingy enough as it is, giving many students little to nothing especially if they are middle class. Everyone wants to get into a public institution because of how much less expensive it is compared to private institutions. Increasing tuition so dramatically in just a year appears to be an attempt of guarding an education from the less fortunate, since the price is so intimidating. I agree with Elaine and that the Hinojosa's bill should be taken into affect. It keeps education affordable for those less fortunate, yet wish to continue on and better themselves through education.