by Krystal Paco

Guam - Relief could be on its way to students at the University of Guam, depending on what action Governor Eddie Calvo takes on Bill 308. Half the battle is won for UOG students, who protested last week before a public hearing on a possible tuition increase.

On Monday Senator Ben Pangelinan and Speaker Judi Won Pat's Bill 308 passed unanimously, which would not only appropriate $1.5 million for payment of tax refunds, but would also provide $1.3 million to UOG. According to university president Dr. Robert Underwood, the institution of higher learning needs $29.9 million to operate, but the Fiscal Year 2012 budget only allotted $26.7 million.

"If Bill 308 comes to pass, it's a very complicated bill - but if it comes to pass it means tuition relief for our students, it's very welcomed news," he stated.

Students like Student Government Association president Jesse Quenga are hopeful Governor Calvo will sign Bill 308 and prevent tuition from going up, saying, "If it passed 15, 0 I'm just glad we got 15 loud voices and maybe we can get a louder one in Adelup, who will say, 'Here you go students, this is for you.'"

Underwood says UOG enrollment is at its highest in years with 3,700 students. To increase tuition by 20% by the year 2013 would negatively impact the growing numbers. "They want to come to the university they're not unhappy here, they just think they're being asked to pay too much," he said.

According to Underwood, university students are worth investing in because a UOG graduate will pay $13,000 in taxes a year. "We have to level off the cost of rising education for our young people," he explained. "We're not just providing them a service we're investing in them - they're the future taxpayers."