Letter to Senator Ed Murray

Dear Senator Murray,

With the recent skyrocketing budget cuts that has been implemented for higher education in Washington state, I am appalled at how unjust the whole thing is. Education is always the first to be cut, and I believe we should correct this wrong.

By raising tuition, you are turning colleges and universities more and more into a business. Do not assume that the middle-class can take care of their own and that the most need will be geared to those with deep financial aid needs--everyone needs help; especially during this time.

I propose that we address and approach each university differently. Figure out what needs to be cut and what is excess. Don't just look at a quick fix solution--look at it in the long run. Getting rid of workstudy for a year won't solve the problem that students need to work--they need money for certain things, whether it is food, transportation or buying books--students need money.

Give out more scholarships; reward students that have worked hard to get to college--do not make scholarships an even more intense competition. People that work hard deserve to be in college and they shouldn't worry about making ends meet.