Tuition increase.

The phrase sends shivers down the spines of cash-strapped college students everywhere. Yet, in Arizona, where in-state tuition costs $2,344, this slight increase could actually benefit students who already pay so little for their education.

President Peter Likins has recommended a tuition hike of $200 for in-state students and $500 for out-of-state students in an attempt to finance solutions to a host of problems plaguing UA.

The increase seems meager when UA students consider the scope of needs facing the university. From professors' salaries and teaching assistant (TA) salaries to improvements in advising and information technology, a tuition increase could have a direct impact on the quality of education UA students receive.

Likins' proposed tuition increase would provide an additional $6.6 million to next year's general fund. Arizona students should not object to an increase that could have substantial benefits.