Summers at U. Houston have many certainties; among them are random rain showers, preparing for hurricanes, and ongoing problems with parking. Benjamin Franklin once famously said, “In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.”

With respect to Mr. Franklin, I would love to add a few certainties we face as Coogs, namely the relentless summer heat, endless construction, and the rising cost of getting a degree from the University.

These, my friends, are all certain. We constantly hear about the struggle to obtain Tier One status, but forget about the certainty that will come with being Tier One: the further rising cost of tuition.

I am all for the University becoming Tier One and gaining the respect that comes along with being a Tier One school; however, we have to stop complaining about the rising costs of tuition in one sentence when we follow it with a desire to become Tier One in a following sentence.

I agree that tuition is expensive here, but we are getting a deal when it comes to the value of our education.

I cannot speak for the other colleges, but I know that I have had the same opportunities as students in a respective degree plan at the University of Texas or Texas A&M. There is no way around the reality that tuition will increase, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Students, go out and get what you pay for. All the extra fees added onto tuition are a nuisance, but it is time to head to our amazing gym and rent out the racket ball court or lounge at the amazing pool in the back and get your summer tan on.

I encourage every student to pull up a detailed copy of your tuition bill every semester to take advantage of the many prepaid items included in your bill, such as printing at the library or in your respective college technology center with your Cougar Card.

I am amazed at the amount of students who are unaware of all the resources that are automatically charged to their tuition bill. Complaining isn’t going to solve anything.

The value of education is much greater than the monetary cost associated with obtaining a degree. So to any UH students still out there grumbling, get on the campus loop and just ride. That’ll show them you aren’t going to take this fee situation lying down.

– Kristen Martinez is an accounting junior at U. Houston