Students are understandably concerned about rising tuition and the value of a University degree. It’s precisely for that reason that they should support the New Partnership, not oppose it. Simply put, the last 20 years have shown that the state of Oregon cannot afford a decent public education for its citizens.
As its support for the University has declined, tuition has skyrocketed to compensate — with full sanction and oversight by our public officials. The New Partnership is literally the only plan that offers a way to halt this trend.
I have studied the New Partnership in detail, plus the two bills proposed in Salem to enact it. I have asked President Lariviere tough questions about donor influence, public accountability and the rights of faculty and students to participate in University governance. In every instance, I have been reassured. I can say with absolute confidence that this is not a privatization scheme, and I don’t know why anyone would portray it as such. And though nothing is certain, I firmly believe it will make the University more affordable, more accessible and more responsive to public needs.
Think about what it will mean, 10 or 20 years from now, if the University’s reputation is actually better than it is today. The Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science on your resume will look better, as well. Now think about how that degree will look if the University continues to decline and your hard work today looks less impressive to your future employers. Now is the time to fight for future generations of University students. Do it for them, and do it for yourselves. Lobby your elected representatives to support the New Partnership.
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