It puzzles me why education is the only industry that doesn't even attempt to cut costs.

I'm convinced that at places like UD trying to keep costs down is not a top priority. It can't be! The press releases announcing tuition hikes try justifying the increases with the worst excuses imaginable. Simply, it's impossible for me to think they are trying everything in their power to keep costs low.

Those in the field of education, for the most part, are not business people. Perhaps this is to blame for the state of college tuition. Instead of living in the real world where saving money is actually encouraged and rewarded, UD officials would prefer to live in the happy educational utopia filled with sugarplums and butterscotch candies.

Sure, the administration side of a school is business oriented, but I believe more and more that either they don't know what's really going on or they just don't care. If I had to guess, it would probably be the latter.

The mysterious board of trustees is probably the most significant player in the game of tuition increases. It is made up primarily of business professionals so I like to think they know something about cutting costs and stream lining fat, inefficient bureaucracies like UD. Once again, however, I am clearly mistaken. Year after year massive tuition increases are 'approved' and the lowly student is left to stomach the bill.

For a group that has so much power over students wouldn't it be nice if we had some contact with them? The university, though, knows better. They're cloistered away like Trappistine monks because if students had the opportunity to speak with any of them there would be lots of screaming, possible tears and perhaps some projectile vomiting. I know those would be my reactions for the group who year after year unjustifiably takes more of my money by 'approving' increases.

Just for kicks, UD should try to keep tuition the same two years in a row. What's the worst that could happen? So the administration won't get to hire new, useless faculty or start institutes and centers whose purposes are vague and results are even vaguer (i.e. ArtStreet). What a tragedy! Oh, the humanity! Truthfully, I doubt anyone would notice.

People are going to catch on. Their pocketbooks and checking accounts are going to force them to. Private institutions like UD are going to start to turn into examples of the past or worst, where paying what is the equivalent to a down payment on a house for one year of school won't add up any longer.

The tuition at private colleges in general is becoming a calamity of sorts. There's no rhyme or reason for such obscene increases year after year. There is going to come a day, I expect in the near future, when people are going to hit a wall. Paying $50,000 for an average private education is not going to make sense anymore. I pray that places like UD realize it before smart students who can't pay the tuition start opting for cheaper, often equivalent college educations elsewhere.