April 3, 2003

Nebraska must invest in future

As are all the students, faculty, and staff at the university, I am deeply concerned about the impact of the planned impending budget reductions. These budget reductions are the necessary response by NU administrators to the governor's mandate that the university reduce its state-aided budget by 10 percent.

I know that the citizens of Nebraska do not wish to lose the treasure that is Item 1 on the list of impending cuts: elimination of the research divisions of the State Museum. The citizens of Nebraska are proud of the unique Morrill Hall collections and the excellent programs offered by the scientists and staff that are to be victims of the budget reductions. We all know that this is where many Nebraska kids come in busloads to often receive the first taste of real science and their first gaze into the distant stars. It is one of the major tourist attractions in this state. It is where my children would choose to spend their Saturdays - at one of the wonderfully organized programs talking to scientists, who are targeted for firing, who are willing to take the time to demonstrate what they do to the public. Where else is there such an opportunity for our children?

Although public programs are ostensibly spared, I am sure administrators recognize that they cannot separate Morrill Hall from its research collections - its unique repositories for insects, mammals, parasites and botany. Morrill Hall also cannot be separated from its faculty without impacting Morrill Hall's exhibits and public programs. Without the research collections and expertise of the faculty curators that go with those collections, we will not have a Morrill Hall. The curators conduct the research and distill the knowledge that goes into the public exhibits in Morrill Hall. Thus, enactment of the planned budget reductions will sound an eventual death knell for the public programs.

I have focused only on Item 1 of the listed cuts. One can continue down this list and recognize that each cut represents continual erosion of the ability of the university to serve the citizens of the state. I do not doubt the university administrators recognize they are recommending the dismantling of treasures. They are faced with the dire reality: If Morrill Hall is spared, another treasure will be destroyed. Those of us who are not listed as casualties in this first new round of cuts also recognize that none of us are victors by surviving the devastating budget cuts to outstanding programs at the university.

Citizens of Nebraska must mount a defense and explain to the governor and to our representatives in the legislature how much these cuts will damage the ability of the university to serve the citizens of the state. How can the future economy of Nebraska improve if we do not invest in the future?

Stephen W. Ragsdale, professor, Department of Biochemistry

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