Students will be able to voice their concern about next semester’s tuition hike and budget cuts to higher education at a forum tonight at 8 p.m. in Grant Towers North cafeteria.

State Rep. John Countryman, R-DeKalb, NIU President John LaTourette and Student Association President Jim Fischer will be guest speakers at this educational forum. They will be available to answer students’ questions concerning the $150 spring tuition increase and other ramifications of Gov. James Thompson’s education budget cuts.

The standing of Senate Bill 1520 also will be discussed. This bill would allow NIU to spend money from the tuition increase as it is collected and, if not passed, could cause a four-week shutdown for the university in the spring.

The forum, sponsored by the GTN Hall Council, is free and open to the public.