Photo from The Advocate by: Travis Spradling
In the Baton Rouge paper The Advocate, my local paper, there was an article by Sarah Chacko about budget cuts in the public colleges and universities in Louisiana. All I have to say in reply to the comments from LSU System President John Lombardi...thank you! Finally someone with common sense in this state!
As much as I love Louisiana for its culture, people, and life, I can't stand the policy making. Due to a failing economy, the state has to look over the budget. What is the first thing to go all the time? Education. The budgets cuts are looking to be about 1 billion with $146 million of that being taken away from the public universities and colleges of Louisiana.
"Lombardi said university officials, rather than legislators, should control the decisions made by the institutions."
Yes! You would think this would be a given fact? No folks. It never is. This is following a history in Louisiana. As in the 70s when the United States witnessed increased gas prices and a failing economy, education was cut in Louisiana. At that time, Louisiana State University was emerging as a high class university. The budget cuts killed it and only recently has it emerged back to enter into the list of tops schools in the US News. Currently it shares the spot for 128.
He also mentions that students CAN afford tuition at LSU. TOPS is a scholarship offered to all students in Louisiana who qualify. He argues that students should still get TOPS, but rather it should be a fixed amount and students pay for the rest. This way it can curb the cuts on the university.
The other point I love is this.
"Academics have to be given the same financial supports as athletics at LSU, he said.
Nobody suggests paying LSU football coach Les Miles less or employing second-rate coaches or cheap facilities, he said.
'The price goes up for quality,' Lombardi said. 'We all pay more for tickets and complain … and moan. And then they show up.'
Exactly! I don't think I have ever seen any cuts in the football program. The day when the philosophy department is getting some cash and football at least has a stall in funds is the day I think I may believe in Louisiana Education policy again...However, I think my cynical outlook will be in tact for awhile.
Unfortunately, this university and this state government is being run by a Republican, which means that it is being run like a business. Those institutions which make money (football) are going to receive more of a boost than those which don't (philosophy) despite the long term effects. Of course, if it were being run by a Democrat...well...we'd be seeing money going everyone's direction completely regardless of results.
ReplyDeleteEducation is the foundation of a successful nation...and yes, that was supposed to rhyme...but i think that the cuts made to education are not the problem. I know that LSU is a relatively efficient university, but I've been around the public school system here in Baton Rouge long enough to know that there is money being misused. Instead of repairing dilapidated buildings and raising teacher pay, the board elects to hand out laptops to everyone and build new schools. I understand the passion to catch up with everyone else in the country, but the truth is that the state flat out cannot afford it right now.
So here's my message: The unviersities and schools in this state need to work on getting their priorities in order. Neglecting maintenance and teacher pay is not the key to success later on down the line. I work at Facility Services at LSU, and trust me, I know that there are PLENTY of things that can be done differently. Bottom line is there are too many employees doing too little work.