Another year has come and gone. Just like that a new semester begins and, much like the seasons themselves, change is upon us here at Skyline.

This semester brings with it some new changes to our campus, one of which is Skyline’s new payment plan. The payment plan has already taken effect, and has already impacted many students on campus.

Students were warned about this last semester by various teachers, officials, and other students.

Starting over the break, anyone who attempted to sign up for classes got a message telling them the ramifications of not paying by a certain point: they would be dropped. And as to be expected, the feedback from the student body varies from person to person. Some feel that this new plan is harmful to low income students, while others feel it’s a good way for the school to get cash flow.

Some students don’t worry about the new system, either because they have program helping them or are financially secure. Nevertheless,they understand how it can be a problem to others. Students like Sara Colby, a biology major, who feels that this new change isn’t without its flaws.

“I know it’s been difficult for other people, some people may not have the money in time so if they lost their job or something they wouldn’t be able to pay and would get dropped,” Colby said. “A lot of students are here because it’s cheaper and flexible, they’re able to pay with flexibility but now it’s becoming harder, plus the tuitions already rising so it’s hard to pay as it is… to have a deadline on that just makes it more difficult.”

Another student who thinks the new system is unfair is one Jessica Hinojasa, an art major, who despite not having any problems herself knows of others who are struggling this early in the semester.

“I can see the purpose of it, but I think it’s not helping people who are financially unstable,” said Hinojasa who went on to give her boyfriend as an example. “[My boyfriend] worked last year and his job contract ended so he started class this semester. He doesn’t have any income now but he still has to pay for his classes so coming up with [money] has been a problem for him.”

As previously stated, some students on campus don’t have to worry about paying right away because they have help from a program on campus, usually in the form of paying in increments.

Another student who is getting help from a program is Cortez Hester, a first-time biological science student who is getting through the semester by payment plans.

“I’m able to use the Sally May program to basically help me do a payment plan within the time frames,” said Hester. “So that I won’t be dropped from any of my classes.”

In addition to getting help from school programs, both Hester and Hinojasa believe that this new system will bring with it a new demographic to Skyline geared toward the more serious and better off.

“It’s going to definitely change the demographics with the new influx of student s who come in,” said Hinojasa. “It’s going to be very specific to social economic status, [this] will limit education for certain people but [the school] will get an influx of money so it’s a give and take.”

Hinojasa went on to say that in the long run, she is unsure if the new system will ultimately be good or bad. Hester however felt that, in addition to the schools population changing, the new system will ultimately be good with enrolling students being more on the serious side about education.

“I can see why they’re implementing it due to the fact that its actually putting more class availability for other students that are trying to get in,” Said Hester. “And those who are actually concentrating and willing to excel in the classes, they’re the ones getting the ball rolling and getting stuff taken care of before they actually get into the class it shows that they’re serious about being enrolled at Skyline.”

Whether you favor the new system or not, the one thing that is for certain is it will bring major change in the long run, for better or for worse. Will the new system make college life better for students, or will this be a case of “don’t fix what isn’t broken”? Only time will tell.