On March 28, a staff editorial in the Northern Star argued that student fees are rising too rapidly.

They were correct.

Fees and tuition are increasing too fast. Lay the blame for this at the feet of the Illinois Legislature and the governor.

On April 6, the Northern Star spelled this out. State support of NIU has fallen from $120 million in 1998 to just under $100 million. By comparison, this would be a loss of approximately $1,000 of university support for every full-time student.

On April 9, 2003, the governor stated, “We must never forget that increasing education spending is a priority,” and he called for a plan to protect financial aid and stabilize tuition. Then on Feb. 16 of this year he stated, “We will not balance the budget on the backs of the working people of the state.” He has failed in both promises. The budget is being balanced – on your back and on the backs of the majority of NIU employees.

Illinois now ranks eighth in affordability – we were first just a couple of years ago. They tell us Monetary Award Program grants have increased, but they haven’t kept up -16,000 eligible students did not get MAP grants in 2003-2004. That number increased to 50,000 in 2004-2005.

It is not just the students who suffer. The faculty here are committed and accessible to students. Yet, the average faculty member salary is in the lowest 20 percent nationwide for public institutions, and we have seen minimal pay raises that resulted in an actual decrease in the purchasing power of many employees’ income.

It is easy to think that the few employees who make more than $100,000 is excessive. Really? Do you hope that with a masters or doctorate degree and 30 years of hard work your salary will stagnate at about $70,000? It’s the reality for most professors.

Many of you will make close to this within 10 years.

Administrative costs are an easy target, but NIU has one of the leanest administrative overhead budgets in the Illinois university system. Not one penny of the recent fee increases will go toward the salaries of faculty or administrators.

The problem is the state is failing on its promise to make higher education affordable and accessible. This promise is becoming a memory. Many of the legislators are products of the affordable system they are currently dismantling.

Affordable, equal opportunity access to higher education is under direct attack. Don’t just complain about the issue – do something about it. You are being shortchanged by bean counters with an “I got mine, forget about you” attitude.

Make your voice heard by April 13. That is lobby day for higher education. Send letters, e-mails, go to Springfield – speak up. Let them know what you think.

Write your legislators, write the governor, write your home town paper. Have your parents write. Remind our elected officials they still represent people who value access to higher education!

Do it now – they are arguing about the budget as we speak. Send e-mails. If 10 percent of you write “Don’t rob us of an educational opportunity!” this will have an impact.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.