A massive tuition hike is on the horizon. Maybe student leaders can stop it, maybe they can’t. Because tuition hikes are bad for students and bad for the economy, students must be hopeful that it can be stopped.

Tuition increases are a part of higher education, but astronomical, unrealistic tuition hikes hurt students in every subsequent year, not just the year the increases start.

Tuition hikes force students into debt, which hurts them personally and hurts the economy in general. Tuition hikes also force students to extend their time in college, distributing their efforts between working and studying.

As degree-carrying graduates enter the work force later than they normally would, the contribution they can make to the economy is diminished, and growth is choked.

The student government has a rally planned Wednesday at noon on the Capitol steps, where it hopes to make a stand against student- and economy-damaging tuition hikes.

Preparation for the rally has been meager at best.

Last year, student leaders were very organized in their lobbying efforts and focused upon what goals they wanted to accomplish. They petitioned the Academic Senate to pass a measure allowing students to miss class to go to the rally. The turnout was remarkable. The results were noteworthy.

Yes, there was a tuition increase, but it was much smaller compared to the increase planned for this years. When President Bernie Machen openly acknowledges the increase will be “big,” we’re looking at a 10 percent increase at least.

In these shaky economic times, we need student leaders to let legislators know our concerns. Leaders need the support of students at events such as the rally planned for Wednesday.

Faculty need to allow students the opportunity to support such efforts without fear of academic reprisal.

Legislators need to take a moment out of their busy schedules to listen to the concerns of their constituents.