Students react to $8 tuition increase next fall
By Courtney Kuchan
Staff Writer
In fall of 2011 MVCC tuition will be increasing by $8 a credit hour. Students’ extra $8 will be split into funds for general spending, and the rest for technology. Administration pledges that the tuition hike is necessary to deal with less federal funding coming in from the state next year. Tuition will be $99 and fees will increase to $9, bringing the total cost for tuition and fees to $108 per credit hour. “This is always a difficult decision,” College President Vernon Crawley said in a press release. “We do understand the impact that this will have on students, but given the circumstances of our continuing reduction in state funding and rising costs, we have no choice.” Crawley continued: “Moraine Valley continues to be an excellent value for students seeking an associate’s degree or certificate, especially when you compare our tuition to four-
Graphic by Stacey Reichard
year private and public colleges and universities and to proprietary institutions. Our graduates also tell us that in surveys.” But many current Moraine Valley students who will be most affected by the increase, aren’t happy with this news. “People don’t go to Moraine for a college experience,” student Caitlin Anderson of Evergreen Park said. “They go here because they can’t af-
ford to go anywhere else, to save money, or to stay home so they can continue working during school. You can’t raise prices on tuition when saving money is the biggest attraction to the school.” Student Isabella Perez expressed concern because of her lack of financial aid. “It just makes things that much harder for students like me that can’t get financial aid but are paying
for school out of pocket without help from anyone,” Perez said. Kymia Crum of Summit said that an increase in tuition could prevent numerous students from attending Moraine Valley in the future. “Times are already hard enough in this terrible economy,” Crum said. “I see students all the time who already can’t afford to buy books. How are they going to pay for classes
next semester? This is definitely going to defer students from coming to school and bettering themselves.” Jessica Liss of Orland Park anticipates increasing her work hours to pay for school. “I’m going to have to take up a lot more time at work just to be comfortable,” Liss said. “Who knows how that’s going to affect my social life and grades?” Crystal Davis, a single mother from Burbank, is frustrated with the way the school’s financial aid system workjs, and says this tuition increase will only add to her worries. “You have to be basically broke and starving to get any money,” Davis said. “It’s almost impossible for us who work hard and can make it by, but are still struggling.” With the economy in its current state, students may speculate about additional tuition increases in the future. Kristen Efantis of Oak Lawn poses another worry:
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Moraine Valley mourns passing of Nancy Pearson
By Rob Siebert
News Editor
Moraine Valley recently mourned the loss of Nancy Pearson, the college’s International Student Housing Specialist. Pearson passed away Nov. 16 due to complications related to leukemia. She was 69. A Hickory Hills resident, Pearson was hired as the school’s Housing Specialist during the 2006/2007 school year. Pearson was tasked with finding host homes for Moraine Valley’s international students. But by that point, she was no stranger to hosting international students. Between 1992 and 2009, Nancy and her husband Tom hosted 31 students from such countries as Saudi Arabia,
Japan, Hong Kong and Korea. “She was a true international educator,” said Diane Viverito, assistant dean of International Students. For every semester, Moraine Valley’s office for international students works with between 30 and 80 young people from around the world. In August alone, Pearson placed 48 stu-
dents in host homes. Viverito called this is an astonishing number. “She had more energy than a lot of people half her age,” Viverito said. Even before she got her job at Moraine, Nancy and Tom Pearson had a reputation for being the family the international students of-
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Memories of Pearson from current Moraine international students: • “You are our angel.” • “We love you. Thank you for everything.” • “I had a great time because of you.” • “Your smile can’t be forgotten.” Photo courtesy of Public Relations