Just What Is the Priority Anymore?

“Just what is the priority anymore?”

By Christopher Binkley

How do we set our priorities in life? Would we spend thousands on curb appeal when our foundation is crumbling away? Would we sell off our retirement fund at an ultimate loss when we are still in our thirties? I am a student at Lincoln University, and I discovered some issues that should not be happening. I do understand some of the reasoning behind it, however I for one do not agree with them. The placing of a monument on campus in lieu of improvements in structure, and the proposed selling of MOHELA, are the issues that I am addressing; is the interests of the current and future students’ being considered in these decisions as well? So I ask you, “Just what is the priority anymore?”

The issue with Lincoln University that concerns me, and some fellow students at the same time, is the fact that the College Board wants to put up a monument instead of investing in existing buildings. I know that Lincoln was founded by the soldiers and officers of the 62nd and 65th colored infantry divisions in 1866 at the close of the Civil War. Having an objection to a monument in honor of the founding fathers of the university is not a case of racism or hatred, but one of concern for the direction of Lincoln University. The fact that it was at one time an all-colored student body does not bother me. The issue that I want to discuss is the fact that there are many other improvements that should be made prior to the building of a monument. The funds the board wants to put into the monument are ill-placed and would be better served elsewhere. Why do we need a monument, because other universities have them? That’s not a very good reason. The amount of money that it is going to take to build it is outrageous! Once you figure in the cost of hiring contractors, excavation and the commission of the monument itself; there could have been various needed improvements made to the buildings, programs and instructors’ salaries.

I have no wish to stop the placing of the monument on the Lincoln campus, but to make it a known fact that I do not agree with the way the money is being spent. The College Board should re-evaluate what they are spending money on. There are several projects that should come before this, along with a more diverse spectrum of instructor’s being hired. There are parking issues, building maintenance, underpaid instructors and events that should be implemented to help bring in a more diverse student body. What does a monument have to offer the school body, other than looks and “we have one, too!”? I myself would much rather see that type of money go to a more productive area of our college. Only after areas that need the improvement are done should a monument be considered and placed on campus.

Another issue that should concern parents, students and future students is the proposed selling off of part of Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority’s assets. The branch of Wachovia has a proposed plan to sell its main financial aid, MOHELA, to larger corporations. This has set off debates within the political offices of what to use this money for. There are several proposed ways that the Missouri government wants to use this money. Most of them do not have the interests of the students that are on the MOHELA plan in mind. The largest majority of this money would go to capital improvements at colleges, but not the colleges that need it the most. The universities that will receive the most benefit from the sale will be the larger, more financially stable, universities of Missouri. The proposed plan calls for $347 million on capital improvements on colleges and universities, $12 million