The below stories were minor wire moves Friday night but caught my eye.
The first — concerning Pitt tuition rate hikes — drew my interest because I am a Pitt grad. The tuition rate increase is ridiculous. The Associated Press reports Pitt is one of four quasi-state universities in Pennsylvania. College officials should have enough money to run academic affairs privately — no taxpayer money. I, as a student, would rather have paid less tuition and have slightly older buildings than sky-high rates and continuous construction of new structures. Especially when buildings at UPJ include a John Murtha center that costs around $10 million (taxpayer money). Spend more wisely.
The second story below is just very odd and creepy.
-Rick Kazmer
rickk@dailyamerican.com
Trustees OK 5.5 percent hike in U of Pitt tuition
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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tuition is going up more than 5 percent at the University of Pittsburgh.
School trustees on Friday approved a 5.5 percent hike for in-state undergraduates, an increase of about $734 per year.
That means in-state students on the main campus will pay about $14,078 annually, though some majors cost more. The price does not include room, board and fees.
Out-of-state students will see their tuition bills rise 3 percent, to about $23,733 a year. That’s about $692 more than last year.
Officials approved a 2.5 percent increase for the Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown and Titusville campuses.
Pitt is one of four quasi-state universities. The new price schedule covers approximately 34,000 students.
Human skull stolen from crypt at Pa. cemetery
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WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — Police in northeastern Pennsylvania want to know who broke into a mausoleum, smashed open a crypt and stole a human skull from a decades-old casket.
Workers at Hollenback Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre discovered the vandalism and theft on Friday morning.
Cemetery employees say someone cut the lock to the mausoleum, which was built in 1904. The skull was taken from a casket interred in the 1920s.
Police Lt. Paul Middleton says there are no leads and the investigation is ongoing.