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As I was sitting here, I was struck with the sort of terrifying thought that it's a real risk

for President Reese to invite me to address the first forum of his presidency.

It could leave a lasting stain on his presidency.

I often begin class at the start of the semester by asking students why they came to

BYU. I admit to being quite disappointed that the most common response is because

BYU is cheap. Now BYU is certainly affordable, particularly relative to other universities across the nation.

At ranked public colleges nationally, the average in-state tuition and fees for the current academic year is just over $10,000.

Just under 23,000 for out-of-state students. The annual tuition for private universities in the U.S. this year

is just under $40,000. By comparison, the annual tuition at BYU this year is $6,300. I recently read that the total

annual cost of education at Ivy League schools is approaching $90,000.

We at BYU can be so grateful that generous financial support of the Board of Trustees makes attendance possible and affordable for so many.

Perhaps the Board's generous support of BYU seeks to avoid the sad state of the Book of

Mormon people just a few years before the Savior visited that people.

And the people began to be distinguished by ranks according to their riches and learning.

Yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty and others did receive great learning because of their riches.

But I would hope that the low cost of attendance would not be the primary reason that

you students are grown to Brigham Young University, or at least that once

you arrive here, whether enticed by the low tuition or the urgings or insistence of your parents or the promise of good dating prospects.

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