In the column “Free tuition will bleed colleges dry,” published Nov. 27 by Noah Smith, the author took a stance against the “free college” debate. The main point the author seems to push is lack of funds.

If colleges don’t get money from tuition, where would the money come from? “Student services would also likely take a hit. Academic departments would shrink, with humanities and social science taking the biggest hits. Some universities would simply shut,” Smith wrote.

I would like to state that I agree with the fact that free college would end up being more negative than positive.

On the other hand, the cost of tuition should be lowered. Many alumni struggle with debt for most of their lives, which isn’t right.

Students should have the ability to get a higher education without worries about debt. As society advances, the need for specialization increases. A high school education isn’t the standard anymore. College is no longer optional; it is necessary. Politicians should try for reasonable, impactful changes instead of giving false hopes to voters.

— Katlin Weddington

China Grove