When President Barack Obama made his annual State of the Union address on Jan. 25 this year, he made a particular announcement that brought back the attention of college students. Originally his main supporters, college students have lost faith in Obama since he has failed to fulfill his promises. During his State of the Union, however, he announced that he would be curbing the cost of tuition in the United States.

For any college student, hearing the prospect of lower tuition costs immediately sparks attention. Many college students can only afford their education through various loans, causing them to graduate in debt.

Iona College Junior Kate Roberts said, “As we are studying to be the future politicians, doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc. of America I think it is a shame that we have to worry each year about whether we will be able to afford the rising costs of tuition next year.”

Others are denied the opportunity of a higher education because of high tuition costs. Obama’s proposed plan to lower tuition costs will not only aid students who are taking out loans but those who have not had the opportunity to get a college degree.

Senior Wynter Clarke said, “I know many people who were not able to attend the colleges they wanted to because of the high cost; it is so ridiculous. I just hope the plan goes through so others are afforded a higher educational opportunity and can actually afford to attend the school.”

America is one of the few countries in the world with such high college tuition. For Canadian students, college costs less than $10,000 per semester. Senior Kristen Mozzochi stated, “Education in America costs an incredible amount, while universities in France charge students only for books and sometimes room and board. Attention on the rising cost of tuition shows that there is a huge flaw in America’s educational system.”

Political Science professor Robert Lacey stated, “Tuition has been increasing faster than the rate of inflation for well over two decades, and the main reason for this is that colleges have the perverse incentive to invest in extravagant capital projects.”

While the main reason for these investments is to attract students, it ends up being the students who pay in the long run. It speaks to why tuition in America is so much higher than in other countries.

Political Science Department Chair Tricia Mulligan followed this thought, saying, “With decreasing federal and state aid to colleges and universities, increasing demand for the latest technologies and state of the art facilities for students and faculty, increasing health care costs, etc. it makes for difficult choices.”

There are a large number of colleges and universities in the United States that are private institutions, though, and education falls under the rule of state government. Funding for public higher education comes mostly from the state. This means that the federal government, including President Obama, has very little control over higher education. In order for Obama to pass such a bill, it would need to be reworked to give the federal government control over these public institutions.

Raising another issue, senior Timothy Cahill said, “It would be great if he could actually curb tuition rates, but until election season is over I don’t see any of the changes proposed occurring.” It is currently election season, and the populace of the United States has yet to see the President do any real campaigning. Is his statement about lowering tuition costs his attempt to gain back the support from his previous followers?

No matter what his intentions are, Obama brought up an issue that has fallen to the wayside for many past years. It is unlikely that Obama will be able to make such a comment and not address it again.