Governor Mike Easley appears to be the champion of higher education.

Disapproving of higher education's higher costs of attendance would make anyone popular with the students of the University of North Carolina system.

But it all comes down to execution.

For the past four years, the UNC-system budget has been slashed by the North Carolina General Assembly.

At the same time, tuition and fees have increased to make up the difference. The increases are not subtle either: from more than $1,800 in the 1999-2000 academic year to more than $3,000 this year.

Board of Governors members insisted financial aid and decreasing class sizes will take top priority in using the monies raised from the increases.

BOG members spoke to the strong student showing in Chapel Hill, and told them they should make the same appearance during the May General Assembly.

Students cited Easley's February letter for support during their protests.

The Appalachian hopes he continues to stand his ground when it comes time to write the 2004-05 budget for the UNC system.

Easley has already warned the Board of Governors there will be budget cuts to the university system.

These cuts almost negate the money raised through increased tuition and fees.

The BOG cannot be fully blamed, nor fully excused for the affordability of higher education in North Carolina.

The ultimate budget responsibility lies in the laps of legislators in Raleigh.

BOG member Ray S. Farris said the purpose of the first board-based tuition increase was to quell the increases imposed by the legislature.

"We will not be out of the woods next year," Farris said. "I say this in the context of the state having been through five recessions ... And yet increases in those years in today's dollars were relatively low as compared to what we have done as a board in recommending tuition increases since 2000.

"In 2004-05, we are about to add more wood to a raging fire which has ignited a frenzy of expectations for new monies on each campus," he said.

Now it is out of the hands of the BOG and it is up to Easley to put his money where his mouth is to ensure the UNC system will not elude parts of the population that may never be able to afford higher education.