Arizona's constitution directs that state universities should be as inexpensive as possible. That is, if we have a choice between raising rates or not, we should always err on the side of not raising tuition.

However, if utilized inappropriately, this policy could damage our strong university system. Tuition should be kept down, but not if it forces us to cut back on facilities and especially not if it forces faculty out of the state universities. Many things contribute to a positive and enlightening experience during a student's years at the university, but the most important is quality professors.

Without textbooks, without buildings, without administration, we could still have a university. We could sit on the Mall and discuss the issues and concerns raised in a class. However, it is inconceivable that we could have a university without a professor to lead the discussions, to guide the students and inspire them.

So far, this policy has worked admirably. Even with recent raises in tuition for in-state and out-of-state students, tuition at Arizona universities is significantly lower than tuition in other states. Despite the claims of many faculty, the quality of the education here and in the other two universities in the system has not been overly affected by the "nearly free" policy.