On Thursday, Feb. 5, President Strikwerda invited the entire Etown college campus to join him and the Student Senate to discuss the rising tuition. He answered the students’ questions about the budget, assuring everyone that the upcoming changes would not lower the quality of education or student life.

One concern many of the senators had regarded incoming students. Strikwerda promised rising prices would not change application rates. He supported this by reminding the Senate that the current sophomore class had the largest admission pool in Etown’s history, and that there is no negative trend line regarding applications, despite the first-year class being rather small. He also referenced a nationwide poll that rated high school seniors’ reasoning for choosing colleges.

The poll claimed that the biggest concern incoming students had were the graduation and employment rates of alumni, followed by academic quality and fit. Affordability is number four on the list. Strikwerda and the trustees therefore assume that students will come, even if it is expensive. “Students come to Elizabethtown for the value they think they’re paying,” he said, “It’s the quality of what’s here… that helps students decide to come and stay.”

Strikwerda supported this statement by using Etown as an example. Of the 78 students who left the college last year, only 19 said that finances were a major issue. The remaining 59 students had issues with fit or the academic program.

First-year student senator Lacey Mac-Rhyann agrees that it is doubtful the rise in tuition will affect application rates. “It’s possible, but at the same time, this college is so generous with their scholarships,” she said. “It’s a relatively slight raise in tuition. I don’t think it’s dramatic enough to make students think differently about the school.”

However, while it is unlikely that incoming students will turn away due to rising tuition, Strikwerda acknowledged that current students might have a problem making ends meet. Every student has already been assigned a financial aid counselor. By calling the Office of Finance and Administration, students can be put into contact with their advisor to learn how to get the assistance they need.

Many student senators think there could be a better solution to the school’s budget problem. Class of 2018 President Sean Fiedler believes that the rising tuition is a “detriment to our college as a whole.”

“It’s not sustainable to keep cutting the budget and rising tuition,” Fiedler said. Because of this, he and his fellow Student Senate members are currently researching a better tuition model. “We’re looking to figure a way to make our tuition sustainable, make cuts sustainable… basically make everything better for the student body and the administration so we can thrive,” Fiedler said.

Most of the senators recommend cutting funding to the Office of Student Activities to help with the budget. “OSA is doing a lot for us, but I’m sure that money could be spent elsewhere,” Mac-Rhyann said. She and Fiedler both think that there is too much money being spent carelessly on the giveaways the college does on a regular basis.

“I just feel like it’s excessive, and we should cut down on the free stuff we give away during OSA,” Fiedler said.

Strikwerda thinks differently. “It’s affordability for what, you know?” he said, “We have a higher sticker price, but we also have a much richer environment and a much higher graduation rate.” By keeping funding in entertainment, students at Etown have a better living experience. A big part of what they are paying for includes the events the college pays for.

Some students, however, value their education over entertainment. “We chose to come to this school mostly due to the quality of education,” Mac-Rhyann said, “If you love this school enough, and feel like it is going to help you in your future career, then that extra money will probably be worthwhile.”

Fiedler agrees that while the increased price of the college may be difficult, it is important to stand by the school. “I’d kind of like to echo that obviously the student body is upset with this, but we still have to have faith in our administration to handle this.”