An open letter to President Steven Leath’s administration: 

As an alumnus I strongly protest your intent to transfer the Iowa Energy Center to the state’s Economic Development Authority.

Both this concept and the process by which you are pursuing it are deeply troubling. As one of the authors of the law which created the Energy Center has noted, it was created thus — by proper and public legislative proceedings — to permit independence from political manipulation and industry lobbying pressures.

Events of recent years have made plain the wisdom of this, as these forces have made attempts to curb the Energy Center’s independence. Yet now, Iowa State is inexplicably proposing to surrender that independence lock, stock and barrel.

At the same time, you have attempted an end-run around legislative authority by suspending key administrative activities at the Energy Center and announcing its transfer before even notifying lawmakers.

The responsibility of Iowa State University, regarding the Iowa Energy Center, is to operate it as directed by Iowa law. It is scandalous that you have attempted to turn this responsibility inside out, via an illegitimate fait accompli.

As a parting piece of advice, I would like to point out that on multiple occasions in Iowa’s history, consolidation in the interests of alleged efficiency would have prevented a university in Ames from existing at all. I suggest you rediscover the vision of James Hilton, et al., of a university that delivers the best programs possible for Iowa’s people, rather than cravenly abdicating that responsibility to curry political favor.