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Printer-Friendly ModeFull tuition scholarships for quintuplets unwise decision by CMU
February 13, 2006 —
Central Michigan University presented full tuition scholarships Wednesday to Rex and Malessa Wing, parents of quintuplets born Jan. 30 just outside of Mt. Pleasant in rural Coe Township. Based on CMU's current rate of $213 per credit hour, the scholarships could potentially save the Wings $132,060 over the four-year period in which the children would be enrolled at the university. However, factor in nationwide inflation averages and the cost of sending five children to college for four years, and the cost balloons to $431,955. While each child would still need to meet the university's admissions criteria for the scholarships to go into effect and would still be responsible for paying room and board, the scholarships are still an unbelievable gesture in the eyes of the Wing family.
For the rest of us students, though, the scholarships seem like nothing more than an investment in an 18-year publicity stunt.
It is understandable why Central made this decision. The quintuplets have drawn state-wide interest over the last few weeks and their location just outside of Central's main campus is too convenient not to take advantage of. CMU has drawn a great deal of heat since announcing a 19 percent tuition increase for new students and was looking for any good publicity it could garner. Yet the move could also be interpreted by many as a slap in the face. Central has been complaining about its budget problems, yet has committed almost half a million dollars to five two week olds. Furthermore, just imagine the frustration on the part of those currently enrolled at CMU who just missed getting academic scholarships yet have to hear about their new "classmates" sporting full rides before they are even old enough to talk.
Central has yet to actually give away any money - they will be spending the next 18 years allocating funds and soliciting donations - and it is that fact that also serves as one of the catalysts for this argument. We would have far less criticism if Central was willing to back these children to go to any institution of their choice or if they stuck a few thousand dollars away into a college fund for them. Instead, they have essentially forced their hands and made the quintuplets Chippewas. Realistically, these children no longer have the choice of where they would like to earn an education, instead being locked into Central before they even know what college is. This is a shame, considering some of the children may want to pursue a major Central does not offer or just get away and attend a different school. Trying to convince their parents to pay for tuition elsewhere when Central has already laid the money on the table will be quite a task should one of the children want to attend a different school.
Again, we are not here to knock the gesture, just point out that some problems could occur as a result of it. The Wings already have three children, one of which is 13. What happens in five years when she is struggling to find money for college and her five siblings in Kindergarten are sitting on a gold mine? How is that fair to her? How is it fair to all of those who work hard to attain the high GPAs and test scores needed to get some sort of academic scholarship when these five need only to meet the minimum admissions requirements?
While the Wing quintuplets may very well end up being wonderful students who are more than deserving of the awards they have been presented, current financial issues surrounding higher education facilities suggest Central is just as focused on gaining good publicity as they are on helping a family. They are receiving major press now for this move and will most likely do so again in 2024 when the children turn 18 and head to college. Help those who deserve the help right now. If the quintuplets are deserving of the scholarships down the road, we have no problem with Central handing them over. At least by then they would be able to say thank you.