ACU raised tuition again, and, not surprisingly, students are upset that their $26,770 will no longer cover the cost of taking 24-36 hours. Next school year they must pay $28,350.

So, in the spirit of making financial cutbacks for the greater good, let’s examine how ACU students could save some green to make these terribly expensive and terribly new payments.

Don’t go to Sharky’s as much.

I’m kidding, of course. Sharky’s is good.

Seriously though, go to the Bean and use up all your meal plans. It’s paid for; don’t spend extra money eating elsewhere instead of making the most of your freshman and sophomore eating experience.

Instead of going out of town every weekend, stay in Abilene, save up your gas money and then give it to ACU.

Didn’t ACU just make $10 million worth of budget cuts?

I challenge ACU to announce it’s reduced its tuition cost next spring for the 2014-15 academic year. Ask students what things ACU offers that they don’t utilize.

With a tuition decrease, however small, this school would make national headlines and would receive excellent PR opportunities and a greater presence outside of Texas. Not to mention make current students happy, which is a bonus.

Or, instead of all of that, we could just raise our debt ceiling. The government does it, so why can’t we? It seems to be working well.

Regardless of the belt-tightening method used, the university and students need to save enough money to counter balance the tuition, plus some additional difference to put away in an “End the Pepsi monopoly” savings account. Though I am bitter that I was denied any opportunity to buy Coca-Cola, on campus throughout my entire college career, in looking out for all those yet to arrive on campus, I strongly advocate selling Pepsi’s superior on campus. I understand the university renewed its contract with Pepsi because the soft drink company that makes sub-par cola gave ACU a better financial deal. But I guarantee the university would make more money from soft drink sales if the most popular drink were in every vending machine around the school.

So, ACU, tighten your belt, save up some of the millions of dollars students pay you, reduce tuition by a tiny amount, and make a deal with Coke. It’ll do you good.