This week, the BDN editorial page asked readers to respond to questions about the University of Maine System’s tuition increase, energy policy and the gay rights referendum. Some of the responses posted at the ClickBack section of bangordailynews.com are printed here. Look for more questions in Tuesday’s editorial column, and visit ClickBack on the BDN Web site.

Tuition at University of Maine campuses is set to increase an average of 10 percent. Is this OK?

Schools all over the state are being asked to make cuts and talk consolidation, why not the same for the university system? The choices made on how to spend money speaks volumes about what we value and where we place our priorities.

Does top quality education equal dollars spent?

– hathorshrine

Why is it that each time the state proposes budget cuts to the University of Maine System that system officials whine to the state, threatening tuition hikes? They get money restored when public kindergarten through 12th grade education does not, and then they raise tuition anyway and blame the state again. It seems they have the best of both worlds. When the consolidation of the UMaine system was proposed some years back, there was huge push-back. Where are those same people when consolidation is proposed for kindergarten through 12th grade schools?

– downeast

Why not cut one of the extremely top heavy layers of oversight? Does the system really need presidents, provosts and a board of trustees?

– dinikiqod

The secretary of state is prepared to approved an initiative by the Maine Christian Civic League to repeal state law protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing, credit and education. Will you vote for it?

The Maine Christian Civic League needs to find a way to be truly Christian and civic and leave the state and all its citizens alone. Why are they going after the civil rights teams that have done so much good in Maine schools to create a safe and respectful learning environment? That has nothing to do with marriage rights, which are already illegal in Maine.

I won’t sign their hateful petition and I hope no one else will either.

– kwilkins

Gas prices are topping $4 per gallon in parts of the U.S. – what should the next president do?

The president has little control over the price of gas except to convince Congress to drill for more here at home and build refineries. Until we can take care of ourselves, alternative energy sources will never become a reality.

– downeast