Financial relief for students is on the horizon

By Scott Ammons
Senior Staff Writer

From the peak of Banner Elk to the sandy beaches of Wilmington, thousands of students and their parents throughout the UNC college system breathed a temporary sigh of financial relief this past weekend.

The UNC Board of Governors (BOG) announced Feb. 11 that it voted unanimously to support a one-year freeze on tuition for all in-state students. Board member Hannah Gage told the Herald Sun prior to the vote, “I don't think there is any doubt that every campus needs money. The question is, do we once again put it on the backs of students?”

The board agreed to table graduate and out-of-state student tuition costs until next month when they meet to discuss student fees.

In a bold and urgent request to the board, Gov. Mike Easley threw his financial support behind the students and their families. In a letter to Brad Wilson, Chairman of the BOG, Gov. Easley assured the board that his budget proposal would fund enrollment increases. Easley said, “Despite fiscal challenges, I will make every effort for my 2004-05 budget to include full funding for enrollment increases, support for financial aid, and pay increases for state employees, including Uni-versity faculty and staff.”