Just last week, OU announced that tuition was going up 4.5 percent. Students were understandably upset. We already have some of the highest fees in the Big 12, and now we have to pay even more per credit hour.
But things like state budget shortfalls happen and we have to accept them. At this same meeting, however, OU gave the seven members that make up the Board of Regents brand new Apple iPads. This is something we do not have to accept.
It’s all about keeping up appearances. OU cannot appear to be in a budget crisis and raise our tuition one minute, then turn around and toss out free iPads the next. The cheapest model of iPad on the market is $499. The most expensive is $829. We don’t know which model they received. But it is upsetting to see these regents, who have plenty of money to buy their own iPads, be given them at no cost. Well, at no cost to them. At cost to the students.
The purpose of the iPads was to help the Regents “go green.” The agenda last week was more than 200 pages and now, with the iPad, they have the option to not print it out. This will save the university money, OU Information Technology claims.
Let’s do some math. A case of paper contains 10 reams at 500 pages each. That’s 5,000 pages. That case is around $40. Assuming that the Regents’ agenda was only 200 pages and let’s say 15 were printed out (for all the regents, President David Boren and various guests). That’s 3,000 pages a meeting used. There are seven meetings a year. That’s 21,000 pages used, or four whole boxes of paper (a fifth having to be bought for the other 1,000 pages). A total cost of $200 a year.
Now, if the Regents received the least expensive iPad ($499), that is a total cost of $3,493 (tax withholding). So, we will start to save money after a little more than 17 years. And who knows what awesome new technology will be out then. Perhaps a machine that can come up with better excuses for wasting student money?
But we can always hope. Hope that the Regents, with their infinite wisdom, chose to sacrifice 3G coverage and larger hard drives for the least expensive iPads. Then they can join students in sacrificing their dreams of going to college.
The Oklahoma Daily is pleased to provide you the opportunity to share your thoughts about this article. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or straying from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of OUDaily.com. Thanks for taking the time to offer your thoughts.
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Log in | Register
TheJR 1 year, 11 months ago
Wow, love this article.
localsooner 1 year, 10 months ago
This is like complaining about a governmental $500,000 expenditure when one is worried about the national debt. It's a drop in the bucket.
Our tuition is going up less than $300 bucks a YEAR and many students aren't even paying their own way (I do pay mine, however.) It's not a big deal, and far smaller than many states are dealing with.
If one is really pissed off about the tuition increase, then they should look to the Republican controlled state legislature and ask the question, "Which party is going to support education, at all levels, in this state?"
Complaining about politically incorrect expenditures is a complete waste of time. Get out and vote, maybe even knock some doors for a candidate. That's where your effort should be focused.
eightbitgirl 1 year, 10 months ago
While I agree with most of your post, localsooner, a lot of us ARE paying our own way. Another $300 bucks a year is a lot of money when you're already strapped.
Tina 1 year, 10 months ago
Thank you 'Anon/localsooner' as you hit the nail on the head. Too many complain but don't vote--or they vote the way their parents do (different generation = different issues) or they vote straight party without looking at how candidates address key issues. Voting is more than marking a ballot or pulling a lever.
(Therefore, I cannot resist a political plug...those of you in Dan Boren's district should check out Rep. Wilson)