By AMANDA MEADE

Scene/Mix Editor

On April 7, The Detroit News published the editorial “Raising taxes to pay for college unfair; schools need more affordable tuition.”

The editorial is about two Democratic state lawmakers who want to raise Michigan’s income tax by over a percent to assist in funding tuition at state universities, community colleges and technical schools, but only for students whose parents earn $107,000 or less.

Wait — don’t we already do this? What about the student paying for every dime of tuition out of her own pocket without any kind of financial aid assistance just because her parents “make too much money?”

A higher education is extremely important and basically essential today ­— yet just because one’s parents make over $107,000 a year, it doesn’t mean it isn’t also hard for that student to pay for his own college tuition.

The editorial also mentioned this proposal would raise taxes by $2 billion. Unemployment is now at 12 percent. Also, the editorial instead proposes a better solution: to make college more affordable all-around.

Even here at Oakland University, where “You can afford this,” we students can attest to the seemingly constant increase of costs to attend the school. Instead of raising taxes unfairly, make college more financially accessible.

To read this editorial, go to The Detroit News website at: detnews.com.