As the Spokesman Review reported in its article Regents freeze new enrollments, in response to reduced state funding, Washington State University and University of Washington have decided to freeze the number of new freshmen and transfer students accepted effective immediately.

''All you do is start cramming more kids in larger classes and teaching
with more TAs (teaching assistants). People start saying 'What am I paying for?"' said Bill Marler, president of WSU's board of regents. ''I didn't sign on to watch us dilute education to the point where it doesn't mean anything."

Marler said it's time for state lawmakers to step in, raise taxes and use the money to preserve higher education. Well-educated citizens are critical to the state's economic future, he said.