Eric Fingerhut: Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal.
We've been conditioned to be suspicious of our education officials, but we haven't had much to complain about your tenure as Ohio's top education official. In fact, you seem truly to value higher education and want the best for future Ohioans.
Imagine how appalled we are, then, at your recent callousness about student concerns.
When Ohio University student leaders urged you to delay approval of a new technology fee until after a campus referendum, they were really pleading for you to listen to them when no one else will. Student input is largely ignored by our administrators at OU, and student leaders felt the best option was to appeal to a higher authority.
So much for that.
When Bowling Green State University students wanted to conduct a referendum about a fee for their student center, you allowed them to do so. But when Ohio University students came forward with a similar referendum, you simply dismissed us. We don't think this implies a personal grudge against OU or the students here. It probably had more to do with timing - the university is planning to borrow the money for the technology upgrade the day before the vote will take place. We can't help but think that we were brushed aside because our request might have delayed, if ever-so-slightly, your beloved University System of Ohio.
You might see this technology-upgrade fee as necessary to get OU on track for its switch to semesters, and therefore on track with the proposed USO. And it might well be. But the debate is not about whether or not, in the end, students approve the fee. It's about getting input from the people who will be paying it.
We don't hold town hall meetings on every policy question that comes up
you said.
No, we do not. But as concerned as you have claimed to be about the cost of higher education, we would think you'd at least be willing to listen to those whose costs continue to rise despite your well-intentioned tuition freeze.
Apparently, we would think wrong.
Higher education, which you so value, has given us a love for democracy and discussion. To encourage education while ignoring its results is ridiculous.
As journalists and as Ohio University students, we expect to be disappointed. And on that note, sir, you did not disappoint.
Editorials represent the views of The Post's executive editors. 4
Opinion
Fingerhut dismisses OU students, joins list of disappointing officials
