Like most historical moments, the move to adopt a need-blind system and improve WashU’s socioeconomic diversity numbers didn’t happen overnight.

Wash U class of 2026 boasts a record-low acceptance rate of 10% and increased diversity.

This decision follows the recent announcement of the 65% increase in the endowment pool return but students have been advocating for this policy as early as 2004.

Students in the top 1% for family income already are represented three times more than students in the bottom 60% in the WU student body, and now tuition is rising again only to hit them harder than higher income students.

Previously, Martin was the dean of the College of Literature, Sciences, and Arts at the University of Michigan, a need-blind institution. In line with his experiences at Michigan, Martin said he wants to make need-blind admissions a top priority at Washington University.

Becoming a need-blind institution that meets full need could attract more socioeconomic diversity to Washington University, the real “ideal” Wrighton should be looking toward.

Chancellor Wrighton said that Washington University’s adoption of need-blind admissions is “an ideal we can work towards” in a recent interview with Student Life.

By remaining the only top-20 school in the U.S. News & World Report rankings that is need-aware, Wash. U. is signaling an apathetic stance on the issue.

As many students are already aware, Washington University has recently announced a tuition hike of $1,600 for the 2014-15 school year. Tuition has increased annually at the school for decades, and while this year’s increase is the lowest percentage-wise since the 1950s, it is still unacceptably high.

In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Barack Obama reinforced the White House’s commitment to reducing inequality in access to higher education, in part by giving colleges incentives to offer better value.