First, let me say, I wrote for the CT in the late 80s, and I participated in student protests in front of Burress Hall to news that the Commonwealth of Virginia would cut its support of state universities, and that those cuts would result in increasing out of state tuition over $10,000. We were fired up. '92 tuition in state was over 7k, a shocking increase from the 5k it was when we started as freshman. I also currently have kids enrolled at George Mason and James Madison, so I understand what paying 25,000 a piece in in-state tuition feels like.

Second, take athletics out of the equation. Its the favorite whipping boy of poor starving student. But athletics is a separate business. None of the dollars going to the Hokie Club, or paying to improve Tech athletic facilities effects student tuition. If you could dig up the CT from the pre-bowl era Hokies, you'd find the same argument.

Third, compare your university to its peers. How does Virginia Tech's business model compare to UVa's, NC States, UNC's, West Virginia, Pitt, Penn State, Clemson, South Carolina? Its the same. Tech has to compete in the academic market place. We should be glad that Tech has so incredibly improved its facilities the past 30 years. When I graduated from Tech, I made my last walk up the Drill Field as a student and soaked it all in, what an amazing place. Today, its even better. My thought for current students, love this time. Its tough, but its the best difficultly you'll ever have.

That said, the author of the article highlights a much wider problem with higher education in America, far from unique to Virginia Tech. Tech is and has to keep up with the "Jones'". The government, through easily available student loan money has created a beast that will not be easily contained. Banks once added an ounce of common sense to the equation that it wouldn't make sense to borrow 100K to pay out of state tuition to get a psychology degree. Now, its as easy as an online from to get a loan (assuming you have a co-signer).

We are in a vicious cycle now. The universities have to keep improving to compete for students. Federal magic money feeds the system. That money of course is all created with cash borrowed from future generations. So today's kids, after they figure out how to pay to 30K in student loans, can also pay in taxes for the government to pay off its debts. What can be done? It starts with families making wise choices to attend schools, and get degrees that result in the least amount of debt.