Commentaries

May 06, 2009

 Commentaries is where Minnesota Public Radio welcomes your thoughtful opinion about current events and issues. Commentaries are like letters to the editor. To be considered for publication, your commentary should be issue-related, clearly written, and follow our Terms of Use. New insights into ongoing topics are especially welcome. Not all commentaries received are published. For topical interaction with others, visit the discussion groups.

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Colleges & Universities need to hold the line on tuition

I completely agree with the caller who named the elephant in the room. [MPR Midmorning: What is the value of higher education?]

Tuition has been increasing at several times the rate of inflation; it increased even when inflation was nearly zero. It maybe worked when banks were eager to loan money - even to students with little or no credit history. They are going to price themselves out of the market if they don't wake up and change their business practices.

Our son graduated from an Ivy League school with billions in its portfolio. There's no reason that school can't afford to provide more assistance to deserving students. Actually, the school has announced an initiative to do just that, but it's too late to help our son. Perhaps the government can buy out his troubled assets? Or restructure his loans?

Sally Carlson-Bancroft
Minneapolis, Minn.


Student negotiation for college funding

My daughter's efforts to negotiate more funding for the private, Minnesota-based college she was accepted to were fruitless. Even after the twenty thousand dollars our family would contribute she would need about seventy thousand in loans! That amounts to five hundred dollars per month payments for many years. Not a good way to start your life! [MPR Midmorning: What is the value of higher education?]

She has made the choice to go to to a University in Wisconsin that she was also accepted at. Though it was not her first choice, she is relieved to not be burdened by loan payments.

Kimberle Linder
Minneapolis, Minn.


Was the honking tree felled to stop honks?

I wonder if anyone who lives within earshot of the tree had simply heard one-too-many car horns? [MPR News: Vandals chop down Two Harbors' 'honking tree']

Dave Brenner
St. Paul, Minn.


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