2008 Woodie Awards
The Bengal View: The declining priority of higher education
Ryan Hunter
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: News
The consequences of such a tightfisted and increasingly hostile fiscal policy towards higher education are indeed grave. They will not only affect those currently struggling to pay for it, but will also affect the future prosperity and competitiveness of the United States on the world stage. If we as a nation, state and community continue this trend of higher education marginalization, we will have leaders even more incompetent than our current ones (I know, it's hard to imagine), leading our great nation swiftly into economic ruin and political impotency. Furthermore, we will have a nation of laborers without the education to drive the innovative spirit that has defined our nation for so long, and without the education to educate others on how to succeed.
Our commitment to higher education must not fade because of difficult economic times or social events. These can tempt us to shift our focus to more immediate issues, such as the current war in Iraq. Indeed, such events should solidify our resolve to maintain a robust and well funded system of higher education, with access available to all who are willing to strive for it and better themselves and their society.
Locally, this means that the State Board of Education must be willing to fund the needed expansions and updates of higher education to meet the changing economic times and needs of students, instead of placing the burden on the backs of the students who try simply to receive a quality education. Our community, state and nation suffer as all three of these levels of government refuse to recognize the importance of higher education, instead selfishly and ignorantly focusing on stretching the almighty dollar as far as possible, regardless of its effects on the future.
Our commitment to higher education must not fade because of difficult economic times or social events. These can tempt us to shift our focus to more immediate issues, such as the current war in Iraq. Indeed, such events should solidify our resolve to maintain a robust and well funded system of higher education, with access available to all who are willing to strive for it and better themselves and their society.
Locally, this means that the State Board of Education must be willing to fund the needed expansions and updates of higher education to meet the changing economic times and needs of students, instead of placing the burden on the backs of the students who try simply to receive a quality education. Our community, state and nation suffer as all three of these levels of government refuse to recognize the importance of higher education, instead selfishly and ignorantly focusing on stretching the almighty dollar as far as possible, regardless of its effects on the future.
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