Michael McCarville

This year is a historic one for Iowa State. For the first time in its 151-year history, student tuition payments make up a larger percentage of the university’s budget than the state’s appropriations to the university. The previous statement was true before this month’s announced 10 percent reduction to the university’s budget. As the university grapples with the daunting task of cutting an estimated $24.5 million from the budget, one thing must be kept in mind: For the first time ever, this is now the student’s university. Gov. Culver relinquished the state’s majority interest in the university in July when he showed a continued disinterest in allocating the support to the university necessary to continue operating at the level of excellence it has historically.

Iowa State is a land grant university with a two-fold purpose to educate students and to provide information and services to the state of Iowa. Those two purposes belong in that order now, with student needs being foremost and public services taking a back seat. Students’ needs should now be foremost in the university’s priorities as it is now their university. In moving forward with budget cuts, it is evident that the university will not be able to operate at its current level while also absorbing a $24.5 million budget cut. The students of this university now must realize that their university is in great need of support. When we graduate from here, each of our diplomas will read “Iowa State University” across the top, in bold crimson print. The value of that diploma — and our education — will forever be tied to the reputation and national standing of the university.

So it is here, at a crossroads, that we find ourselves. Do we fight to keep our tuition charges down? Or fight to preserve the quality of our education and university? I, for one, refuse to settle for less than the best. At the same time, I refuse to settle for less than what I paid for. So when the university asks students to bear the burden of this reduction, I hope students will come to the aid of their university. We should not, however, bear the burden silently. Speak up for the preservation of those services that benefit you, however small and apparently expendable.

For example, non-tenure eligible faculty now teach 25 percent of classes. Speak up for those young instructors, as they are the individuals who are educating you. Speak up for the person in career services who is assisting you in refining your resume, so that you can obtain the job you have worked hard to be prepared for. Speak up for the secretary who is keeping you on track to graduate. You are paying for your education; this is now your university. Make sure your money works for you.

So, in moving forward, I look to how we have arrived at this crossroads. Iowa State is a partnership between the students and the state. One of those partners has defaulted on their promises, and, as students, we will soon be paying the price.

Gov. Culver has continually shown a complete neglect of the university system in Iowa. It is time that, as students, we look for a new partner in Des Moines — one who realizes the value of the excellent university system in Iowa and is willing to work with the students to not only maintain that level of excellence but move forward into the future, striving for improvement.

Thirteen short months from now, all students will get the chance to show Gov. Culver their lack of confidence in him as a partner. In the last presidential election, the country saw the power of the young voters to influence an election. We saw firsthand the excitement college campuses had going into that election and the importance they had in deciding the election.

Next November, I hope the students at all three Regent universities will again show Gov. Culver that same excitement and power. Come November, my vote will be for sale, the price: $65,000,000; that is the amount Gov. Culver has cut from just Iowa State in only the last three months.

Michael McCarville is a graduate assistant in entomology.