The second tenant of The Minnesota Daily’s mission of providing a forum for the communication and exchange of ideas for the University of Minnesota community happens on this page — and we hope you take advantage of it.

The nation’s state-funded universities — especially, we think, this one — are becoming more and more devoid of fresh ideas. One of the more basic issues, for instance, is that of access to the University. A decade ago, the annual cost for an undergraduate on this campus was about $4,400. This year, it’s just over $11,000.

The administration will tell you, and has told us, that the quality of a University of Minnesota education has risen with its cost. We have, and will, beg to differ. At the same time the administration has made that argument, it’s built a football stadium. It’s pushed professors to commercialize ideas and deemphasized important liberal arts studies. It’s spent more money on central administrators while cutting TAs from departments, thus your ability to truly understand the subjects you’ve come here to study.

At least the University’s mission is sound. Part of that mission states that the University “is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community.” The Daily’s readers are vital to helping us hold the University to its’ word. So don’t be afraid to submit a letter or guest column. And if you disagree with us, send in your opinion, and we can let the rest of our readers know about it.