September 12, 2014 Free tuition editorial idea is naive Editor, Regarding the Sept. 4 "Our View" entitled "Free tuition after eight semesters," the folks who came up with this idea have a very limited (and naive) notion of the spectrum of students entering our university system. There are many reasons why students may make a "good-faith effort" and still take more than eight semesters to graduate. That aside, what about under-prepared students (over 60 percent by some estimates) that require remedial education in math and English before completing their degree? Wouldn't "free" tuition after eight semesters "in- centivize" students to take their time rather than complete their degree? I don't see how one could draft a fair and eq uitable policy that would help students without penalizing universities. As a professor at Weber State, my colleagues and I work diligently each day to help our students succeed. Our tuition is comparatively low, and the return on investment is some of the highest in the nation. We draft comprehensive degree plans that, if followed, would see a student to graduation in four years of full time study. Rather than "incen- tivizing" universities to ensure student success, perhaps we should consider returning legislative funding for state higher ed to historic levels and help supplement the cost to all students. As you say, the main benefactors will be students and society. John Armstrong Marriott-Slaterville 4A Sunday, September 14, 2014 KATHLEEN DUNCAN/Standard-Examiner Rhythm Rowell, 3, of Salt Lake City, splashes mermaids Thalassa (Elizabeth Bowns, 26, left) and Nym (Yazmine Baker, 22, right) in their pool at the Utah Pirate Festival in Ogden.