In Jeff Oliver’s commentary entitled “Better than a public school” (ODE, March 5), he claimed that the solution for the University’s budget problems was to turn the University private. Oliver complained that our school’s $8 million budget cuts were trying to be solved with “generic” methods, like raising tuition. His solutions, however, would be to privatize the University thus raising the tuition, in his words, “drastically.”
Hold on, didn’t he say that was generic? Going to college is all ready a very exclusive right of the wealthier members of our country. Why not up the ante a bit more? Private schools across our great nation are presently filled to the brim with primarily upper class student bodies. Oliver, it seems to me, hasn’t had to work to pay for his schooling or rent; he hasn’t had to delay his higher education because mom and dad didn’t have enough money in their college fund for him.
I have had to work to pay for school. I have had to take time off and work multiple jobs to be here in school. Next semester, I will not be here. I’ll be back home working, with hopes of coming back in the fall.
Oliver’s argument is a generic one, coming from a seemingly privileged point of view. He complains that state funding is wasted on other, smaller, more affordable state schools. He seems to be suggesting that Western Oregon University is “wasting resources” by providing a more affordable education. He is, and excuse me if I am wrong, suggesting that maybe that school should admit its inferiority and begin “using its facilities as a correctional institution.” A fine idea. Along those lines, wouldn’t we have more room for inmates here?
Why should they close their school before us? Because they don’t breed NFL players or attack trust fund babies. Oliver’s reluctance to share with the less fortunate is what is fundamentally wrong with our upper class. Our upper class has always had the power and the education to stay on top. Making the University private would be a generic solution keeping the rich in school and the poor picking up after them.
I have no solutions for our University’s budget problems. But to blame the “fringe” schools in Oregon does nothing. Why shouldn’t Oregon State University be given equal funding? Its agricultural focus needs to be supported in a time when our natural resources must be better utilized. If you want a private school education, go to Reed College, and there you can get a “better product.”