Reciprocity. It applies to many different situations but if you mention it to any Minnesota resident on campus, he or she will know exactly what you are talking about.

Reciprocity between Minnesota and Wisconsin allows residents of each state to go across the border for college, but still pay in-state tuition. A Minnesota resident attending UW-Eau Claire pays $3,362 but a student from another state would pay $10,780.

This benefit may not be around for much longer if a bill outlined by Minnesota state Rep. Joe Opatz is successful. If passed, the bill would terminate reciprocity agreements Minnesota has with not only Wisconsin, but North Dakota and South Dakota as well.

Reciprocity opens up a lot of opportunities for students and it would be a mistake if the Minnesota legislature approved of terminating the agreements.

If the lawmakers want to increase the enrollment of the public universities, then they are going about it in the wrong ways. The best way to increase enrollment is to raise the quality of schools and strengthen the individual departments. And it must be in schools other than the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus.

Many Minnesota students come to Wisconsin schools because of the varying size of the schools and the specialization they offer.

Reciprocity makes public schools more competitive with their quality of education. The universities are forced to make themselves more attractive to in-state residents so the students don’t go to school in another state. Reciprocity gives students a fair chance at getting an equal education and should be considered on the national level.

The closeness of cities like Eau Claire and River Falls to Minnesota also is an incentive for students to come here for school, especially those living in the Twin Cities area. Having to pay more than $10,000 to come to a public school less than 100 miles away is insulting.