I was born a Cyclone, starting life at Mary Greeley Medical Center and living my first six months in Pammel Court with my then-ISU student parents. My grandparents are graduates of Iowa State, and I proudly called myself a third generation Cyclone. It was ironic that my family found “home” only 10 miles away from Iowa City, deep in Hawkeye Country.

My family stayed loyal to our gold and red roots, one of the few families in the area to loudly profess a love for ISU, and steadfastly cheered on the Cyclone teams through thick and those very thin years.

But I am announcing my withdrawal of support for the Cyclones.

You see, I am a secondary history education major. My program was cut this past month. I have a hard time imagining myself cheering on the programs that receive enough money to jump start any program at ISU. I can’t support a school that says it is here for education but cuts programs right and left, while giving raises to coaches.

I’m having a hard time imagining my car five years in the future without an “Iowa State Alumni” sticker in the back window. But I suppose it will say “University of Northern Iowa” now.

Melinda Rouse

Former student

History