In the most-attended open forum to date, President Michael Crow spoke to students across ASU’s four campuses Wednesday from the Polytechnic campus, addressing student concerns about tuition increases and other issues.

Addressing Tempe, Downtown and West students through a live video stream, Crow started the third forum this school year by reminding students about the Arizona Legislature’s role in the ASU budget.

“We are in a situation where the state of the Arizona, who is a significant investor in ASU, is making decisions and deciding other things are important, rather than higher education,” Crow said.

After his opening comments, students asked Crow questions, starting at the Polytechnic campus. One student asked how Crow plans to make ASU a more efficient University without increasing tuition, and Crow sympathized with students’ financial restraints in his response.

“We’re trying to find ways to make sure no student is left out for financial reasons,” he said. “The logic we are committed to is financial access to the institution.”

Undergraduate Student Government president and political science junior Brendan O’Kelly asked Crow what University leaders are doing to bring more voting education to ASU, and wanted to know if services could be made available to help students register to vote in Arizona.

Crow said he was in favor of helping with voter registration, as well as trying to bring more polling locations to campus.

In May, a bill to increase Arizona sales taxes by one percent will hit the statewide ballot, an issue Crow said is important for the University.

“If this passes, it will exempt us from more budget cuts,” Crow said. “It’s very important and it’s something students show be aware of.”

If the bill doesn’t pass, ASU could face another $40 million in state funding cuts.

Another Polytechnic student expressed concern about out-of-state tuition increases.

Crow said ASU’s new proposal for out-of-state tuition was “very modest.” The proposal, released Friday, will be considered at a March 11 Arizona Board of Regents meeting. ABOR will also hold tuition-setting hearings on Monday on all four campuses.

“As for the airport, airlines often go through bankruptcy,” Crow said. “It doesn’t mean they’re going out of business, but it means they’re re-arranging the financial structure.”

Graphic information technology senior and president of the Polytechnic Softball Club Aaron Gould detailed some of his concerns about the softball field on the Polytechnic campus, including injuries players had sustained from poor field conditions.

“We shouldn’t have a field conducive to injuries while playing a game,” Crow said, adding that he would look into the matter. “You don’t need to wait to address me on these issues. If students are being injured, don’t wait, speak up.”

Gould said he was happy with Crow’s response and felt his concerns were addressed appropriately.

Associated Students of Arizona State University Polytechnic president and aviation management graduate student Matt McCoy said the forum was successful.

“I think students were able to address their concerns with Dr. Crow and that was really the main goal,” he said.

Gould said student government did a great job advertising the event, but there was room for improvement.

“[Student government members] did their part, but I think the University should advertise more. They should put it on our home page,” he said. “This is a big thing that Crow is taking time out of his busy schedule for. It’s important for everyone to be able to address their concerns.”

Reach the reporter at sheydt@asu.edu