Blago exploiting NIU

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Posted: 2/29/08

Students at Northern Illinois University are continuing to move forward, but the WC feels Gov. Rod Blagojevich's $40 million plans are a step in the wrong direction.

On Wednesday, Blagojevich announced plans to demolish Cole Hall and build a new classroom structure called Memorial Hall elsewhere on campus. He said emergency legislation for the $40 million project would be submitted in Springfield, to be paid by long-term bonds and taxpayer money. Northern President John Peters said a memorial to the deceased would also be erected on the Cole Hall site.

While the WC has the utmost sympathy for the Northern community, we do not feel the situation warrants such a large price tag. A new building will not erase painful memories, and the Western Illinois University community knows ongoing construction does not make treks across campus any easier. We certainly encourage the construction of a memorial, but we wonder how the decision to raze the entire building came about.

Virginia Tech did not demolish its academic building or residence hall, and Columbine High School did not bulldoze its facilities. Each situation is different, but it seems that the move to demolish a building that has been standing since 1968, at the very least, is a knee-jerk reaction to the tragedy. We feel both the governor and president are utilizing this moment to their best advantage.

The WC agrees with Northern Star Editor in Chief John Puterbaugh, who said in a recent column: "I'd hate to think our unspeakable tragedy of Feb. 14 could be viewed and taken advantage of as nothing more than an opportunity for the governor to improve his image in the public's eye."

The State of Illinois' budget further complicates the situation. Since allocation of funds is still in limbo, and there doesn't appear to be $40 million in a back-room change jar, it not only places Blagojevich in the difficult position to pay up but also pressures legislators to rethink their priorities.

It seems unfair to introduce the project as emergency state legislation because it forces legislators to reassess a budget that's already been reworked too many times. Not to mention the numerous other projects that await funding could be pushed even further back.

Puterbaugh said in his column that Cole Hall is only 40 years old, and there are other buildings on the Northern campus more in need of funds. He also noted that the campus' newest academic building only cost $20 million. Other public state universities have been waiting for funds as well. Western's Performing Arts Center received $4 million two years ago to jump start planning, but the project is stalled until the state budget for FY08 is completed.

What a monetary mess. Peters may say "an act of violence does not define" Northern, but we don't think it's appropriate or fair to let an act of violence finance them, either.