A crisis of spiraling tuition - The Boston Globe

A crisis of spiraling tuition

Colleges must volunteer — or be forced — to address rising costs

Globe Columnist / August 31, 2010

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THE COST of college has become unpatriotic.

In a speech to the Urban League in July, President Obama bemoaned the nation’s drop from first in the world to 12th in measures of college completion. This situation is “economically indefensible’’ and “morally inexcusable,’’ he said, and “all of us are going to have to roll up our sleeves to change it.’’

Graduation rates aside, the most morally inexcusable aspect of college is the unbridled cost of getting in. It is clear who should be first to roll up their sleeves: college presidents. Obama should declare their tuitions and fees a state of emergency and call a national summit to hold these institutions accountable.

At this very moment, loaded minivans and U-Haul trucks are crisscrossing

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Tuesday, August 31, 2010