KU's boathouse
Barb Nichols - Emporia
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
THE EMPORIA Gazette’s March 6 edition reported that Kansas University has just completed a $6 million dollar, 16,000-square-foot boathouse. According to the story, KU’s student body voted in 2005 for a student fee to fund the building.
And now, according to the March 9 Gazette, ESU students will vote next month for a fee increase to pay for a $18.5 million dollar renovation of the student union!
I am amazed!
I was under the impression that college educations were becoming so expensive that many students would require taxpayers assistance to help them pay for their education. And I continue to be amazed that $18.5 million dollars or even $6 million dollars could be raised from student fees alone.
I find it difficult to believe that a boathouse and student union renovation will add to the education of any student.
These are just a couple of examples of living way above our means. Americans are in for a shock when they realize we can no longer spend as though money grows on trees.
Barb Nichols
Emporia
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
Building a boathouse at this time (or perhaps any) seems frivolous. But the student union is a different story. Ms. Nichols obviously has no idea of how the ESU Student operates. It's more than a recreation center. It's the cafeteria for dorm residents, the main food service center for faculty, staff, and students on campus, and the primary meeting place for student organizations and official university meetings. In many ways it's the nerve center of the university.
You want to know what's shameful? Even though the university uses the building for offices, faculty meetings, official university functions, and many other events that involve constituents other than students, NOT ONE STATE DOLLAR goes toward the construction of this building. By state law, no state appropriation may fund a student union. So the students must foot the entire bill.
Now, ask yourself: how would ESU function without its student union, paid for by student dollars?
People should become better informed before they write these sort of letters.
March 18, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
I agree with bob. We need the student union. When I was an ESU student, I spent a lot of time there for various reasons. I think they could cut back on other stuff first. When I was a student, the football team got a big chunk of my fees while the library got around $1. I could live without the football team but needed the library to do assignments. We need to adjust our priorities. There's a college back east that is bare bones, just classrooms and vending machines that offers a 2 year course for half the price of the nearby college. And the students love it. It was on CBS news last week and struck me as very practical. I predict more colleges will need to trim programs to survive the next 5 years or so.
March 18, 2009 at 3:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nutsaboutools (anonymous) says...
I agree with bobhornet & madpoet,
My daughter will start next year at ESU. I'd rather pay the "additional fees" toward the student union (that benefits all students, faculty & staff) than waist my money on the "inflated" football program (that only benefits a much smaller percentage).
Although I agree with you that Americans have been living "way above our means" (which I think is the biggest reason we've gotten into this economic crisis in the first place), I don't think you used an appropriate example.
Dave R.
March 18, 2009 at 3:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pizza (anonymous) says...
That sounds like a lot of money to remodel a student union for a school the size of ESU. I imagine the vote will pass as the students voting for it will only have to pay while they are in school. The vast majority of the cost will be paid by students who aren't old enough for college yet. In the current economy it would seem prudent to me to hold off for a while. Who knows how many can afford college next year and the year after? Should enrollment decline, and it well could, that would leave payments to be made by fewer students and cost more per student. So many folks feel they shouldn't have to wait for anything but this economy thing isn't out of the woods yet and likely will not be for a long time yet. Those voting for the debt know nothing of economic pain. I think holding that election now displays very poor judgment on the part of the college. What if the students in the future cannot handle the payments? Who pays then? Will they then think the taxpayer should bail them out? It isn't a necessity but, of course, would be nice. Many people think a job would be nice today.
March 18, 2009 at 10:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )