Don’t Shoot the Messenger!
There has been a clamor in Student Senate over whether or not adding a measure to the Student Election Ballot focused on a vote of “no confidence” in the Board of Trustees is a good idea. If the resolution makes it to the floor, that’s understandable and it’s democratic.
I’ll vote my conscience and then we’ll move on. Ultimately it will depend on whether the Board of Elections makes it to the ballot.
But if the issue makes it to the ballot, there are some pressing concerns that need to be taken into account. Allow me to clear the air a tad — the Board of Trustees voted to raise next year’s tuition by 3.5 percent for next year.
While as a student I’m disappointed and frustrated, the full facts of the scenario need to be fleshed out completely before a major step can be taken (like putting an issue on the ballot like the one mentioned).
The cause of the raise in tuition has nothing to do with a greedy board or administration trying to squeeze more money out of cash-strapped students.
In fact, the Board of Trustees has absolutely nothing to gain from such a decision. The reason behind the rise can be found in the increasingly difficult University Budget climate caused in large part by a decrease in the State Share of Instruction (a problem again due to difficult state budget climates).
When it comes to keeping this university a top-notch institution, there are competitive advantages that have to be taken into account. Ohio University is a great school and will continue to be so well into the future, provided service provision can remain steady and provided we can retain the excellent faculty we currently enjoy.
The reason we face a loss in these areas has nothing to do with the Board of Trustees’ failure to provide; it is fundamentally rooted in a decrease in state subsidy.
A vote of “no confidence” issue on the Student Ballot would do absolutely zero to allay budgetary problems here at Ohio University. Further, a vote of “no confidence” would do EVEN LESS to lower tuition. It seems that the group promoting the issue has been laboring under a mistaken — though understandable — impression.
Rather than shouting down the group that, stuck between a rock and a hard place, made the tough decision to raise tuition, their energies would be better spent lobbying the state government to prioritize Higher Education differently.
A vote of “no confidence” in the Board of Trustees will grant no closure and distract the people who could otherwise focus on ways to try and alleviate the problem. While the idea is well-placed, let’s focus on the disease rather than the symptom.
When State Share of Instruction decreases and tuition goes up as a result, we need to stop trying to shoot the messenger.
Treat the disease, not the symptom.
Chris Wimsatt is a senior studying political science and treasurer for Student Senate.
