The business section of the Register-Guard on Oct. 5 contained a story about a visit by an official from the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., to the Riverside Research Park near the University of Oregon campus. Why is the Department of Commerce interested in the research done there? As a retired economics instructor, I know that research and development of the type that is done there is one way to push the opportunity curve to the right and, thereby, increase the GDP and provide more personal income.
I also know that a second way to do the same thing is to increase the level of education and training of the workforce so that it is more productive. While the R & D is largely done at the university level, and that is important, I also know that programs designed to train and educate the workforce are largely done in Oregon by the 17 community colleges.
Lane Community College in Eugene allows students to get their general electives and the first two years of college before transferring to universities such as the University of Oregon. At this time, however, LCC is having real budget problems and in June of 2006, it was forced to cut almost $6 million from the 2006-07 budget because of a lack of support from Salem. It faces the necessity to cut another $5 million from its 2007-08 budget. As a consequence, the college has cut staff and services and raised tuition.
In June, the board of LCC voted to put a modest levy on the Nov. 7 ballot. The economic return from an investment per capita of approximately $10 per year, as outlined in Measure 20-120.
I would hope that all students of the University of Oregon, especially those who have transferred from LCC, will closely read the editorial endorsement given to Measure 20-120 by the editorial board of the Register-Guard on Oct. 2, the material available from the League of Women Voters and vote YES on this measure. I also hope that the professional staff and others at the University who realize the economic and social value of education will also endorse and support Measure 20-120. Also LCC President, Dr. Mary Spilde, has often said that LCC allows the citizens of Lane County to get a lot by investing a little in LCC.
G. Dennis Shine
Springfield resident