As Washington state Democrats and Republicans gear up to turn in their budgets for the next fiscal year, this editorial board pleads with them to address higher education needs.

In 2012, I learned that Whatcom County shares the problem of overflowing prisons with the rest of the nation. In 2009, it cost Washington state $51,775 per inmate annually, according to a 2012 Center on Sentencing and Corrections report.

The article by Taylor Rubright about graffiti reported that an increase of vandalism on Western’s late-night shuttle is costing students money.

Brown said in a statement “words cannot begin to express how sorry I am over what transpired.”  

Reema Patel, junior, marketing
“Ron Paul. I can’t really explain why, but if you watch his interviews he seems to have the most knowledge. Mitt Romney is also favored, but Ron Paul seems to have the advantage.”

Chris Brown beat up his girlfriend on the eve of the Grammys three years ago. He was invited to perform at Sunday night’s award show for the first time since the incident.

I am spending this quarter in Iceland on a self-designed research project studying the concept of freedom of the press.

Shauna Rogers, junior, marine biology
“I think it is kind of stupid actually. I mean, why should someone get a ticket just for skateboarding through campus?”

The editorial board is comprised of Editor-in-Chief Paige Collins, Managing Editor Marissa Abruzzini and Opinion Editor Sarah Aitchison.

I was first a little surprised by the article “A new way students can learn.” Some professors would like to use our Student Technology Fee for iPods and iPads; this would seem not to affect a very big group of students.