Is ASPSU over-reacting?

If you are a semi-responsible student and have been reading the Daily Vanguard, the Spectator, or anything in the news/politics section of the issue of the Rearguard you are holding in your grubby little hands (seriously — wash after going, people), then you have probably heard about the so-called “Frohnmayer Report.”

No, this isn't some spin-off of the Colbert Report being broadcast on Fox “News”; rather, this is a little document that has gotten people on campus worried about PSU’s possible incorporation. This would, essentially, comprehensively reform the entirety of the budgetary and funding options available to the university (for an overview of the proposals, turn to page 6). Mostly, the panic seems to come from the offices of our esteemed ASPSU. We all know that corporations are inherently evil, sociopathic entities that drink stem cells from the necks of unborn fetuses (which, by the way, the U.S. Supreme Court recently declared have more rights than you or I). Although there is no stem cell drinking in the PSU proposal, you might think that there was, if you had listened to President Jonathan Sanford at his most recent protest in the Park Blocks back in February.

This begs a serious question: did anyone in the Sanford administration actually read the Frohnmayer Report? And if they did, what is it that they are afraid of? Is it a fear that “corporate culture” (whatever that is) might take over PSU? That is highly unlikely — the culture of the university has very little to do with the funding model the university employs, other than making sure that the pursuit of an education remains affordable for the average Jane or Joe. The people who are in charge of pursuing a new strategy are either current university professors or have a deep background in education (Dr. Melody Rose, and Dr. Wim Wiewel, to name only two).

The next time you hear one of our collegiate peers shouting about corporate takeovers, or blanket opposition to restructuring efforts, find out if they have read the Frohnmayer Report. Be especially concerned if one of the candidates for student body president is engaging in this behavior, because it’s counter-productive to finding a solution. For the record, President Sanford should be applauded for meeting with Dr. Wiewel in a public forum last month to address the issue. Let’s all hope that this kind of dialogue continues, and that the shouting doesn’t.