http://www.studentprintz.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/04/25/444dae8768c1e

College board approves tuition increase

...“The last thing we want to do is raise tuition because it places a burden on students,” said President Shelby F. Thames. “It's not something I enjoy doing or composing, but it's the only way to provide money necessary to fund the university.”...

...Thames said his next step is to meet with deans, department chairs and faculty members to assess where cuts can be made to make the university more efficient.

“It will be just be the basics. There won't be any frills at all,” he said. “We may have to reallocate sources, though we do not know precise actions.”

Thames said though the university is facing “hard financial times” the good side of the tuition increase is USM has a dedicated faculty and staff like none other.

“We're going to continue to work hard every day and continue to educate students and be a world class research institution,” he said. “This will be tough, but we're gone be fine.”...