EDITORIAL: Let’s fund education before entertainment

January 28, 2010 by The Rebel Yell 

This week’s top story and the hottest item of discussion at Monday’s CSUN Senate meeting was Campus Life Director John Goldman’s proposed spring concert.

The discussion centered less on the proposal itself and more on the way it was handled. The item, which Goldman submitted on time and via proper channels, was removed at the last minute.

The CSUN Executive Board cited a need to focus on the additional budget cuts facing the university as their reason for removing the item for future discussion. Goldman and many senators were understandably upset at the omission, which, though likely well-intentioned, may have come off as a clandestine attempt at executive control over the Senate.

Although the CSUN Executive Board did not handle the agenda item gracefully, we agree that UNLV is in a dire budgetary situation – every dollar must be treated as a precious resource that could bring our campus one step closer to making it through this crisis.

When the item finally officially reaches the Senate, it is our hope that they weigh its importance carefully.

A concert, especially in our current situation, simply isn’t a good use of student money.

We’ve seen many CSUN initiatives that greatly benefit the university community in both the long term (like safer crosswalks on Maryland Parkway) and on a scale that benefits many students (like the textbook borrowing program for common classes).

We’ve also seen that CSUN is willing to fund student organizations, which create a favorable, diverse environment at UNLV and foster the unique campus life experience found at this university.

Does UNLV need to host a costly spring concert right now? Is a one-night-only event truly going to make a difference for students? For the long-term survival of the university?

Is it wise to put on an entertainment event like this if our own Entertainment and Events Management program could use funding?

Another hypothetical situation: Fine arts departments are frequently the first thing on the chopping block in budget cut situations, in both K-12 and higher education.

Would we rather bring in bands for a concert or take steps toward maintaining our own fine arts department?

We hope that when this particular proposal does make it to the Senate floor, it is given a critical eye and that the Senate makes its priorities known.