Two months ago, the Iowa State Daily reported on the intense scrutiny and realignment of departmental and college functions occurring in light of the current budget crisis. However, further detailed investigation and reporting is warranted at this time — before the campus community embarks on semester break.

Is there not outrage among faculty, students and staff that Iowa State’s graduate college could be dismembered before our eyes, and we will be left in the spring to wail and moan at its demise with no recourse or ability to change the course of decision making? If, indeed, the university is committed to world-class education, diversity and scholarly pursuits, then the administration must take a long-term view of what the graduate college represents to the university in terms of respect from peer institutions and the public, as well as the ability to recruit and retain outstanding faculty and graduate students.

We must not be passive — we must ask questions and make it clear to the administration that short-term business decisions are not in the interests, nor consistent with, the vision and mission of Iowa State and the constituencies it serves. It is time to rethink priorities and efficiencies, but not to the extent that we lose sight of what we are about and why we are here in the first place.

Pamela Duffy

Graduate Student

Curriculum and Instruction