Iowa State recently announced that with the expansion of Reiman Gardens, the previously free facility will begin charging an admissions fee.Reiman Gardens will be expanded to include a butterfly house and a conservatory in addition to the existing gardens and the arboretum currently under construction.Iowa State is a public university, and a facility like the Reiman Gardens should not charge admissions to its constituents — students and the citizens of Iowa.Financial support is the main reason for the admissions fee, which is justifiable considering the large expense of a butterfly house and conservatory. But, the admissions fee should not apply to the entire facility.People who are interested in exotic butterflies and a conservatory are relatively few among those who will visit Reiman Gardens.People go to Reiman Gardens to see beautiful gardens and for the relaxing atmosphere. Most people want a leisurely walk around the gardens to look at flowers they don’t have the time to cultivate themselves.Reiman Gardens has been a free service since 1995, and it has been greatly appreciated by the Ames community. However, the gardens will probably not be as well-used if people have to pay to appreciate them.If you ask somebody if they want a candy bar, they’re not going to turn you down. But if you ask them if they want a candy bar for $1, it’s a whole new ball game.”If you build it, they will come,” doesn’t apply to everything.The university should charge for the butterfly house and conservatory, but the gardens and arboretum should remain free of charge.

editorialboard: Carrie Tett, Greg Jerrett, Katie Goldsmith, Andrea Hauser and Jocelyn Marcus