Since that time, the housing market collapsed, the banks went bust, unemployment reached historical levels, and now we’re looking at huge budget shortfalls in higher education.

Missouri’s higher education commissioner warned of potential 15-to-20 percent budget cuts to state universities, possibly leading to university closures, larger class sizes and even elimination of athletic teams.

And yet, we are still chugging along about to build a superfluous facility that the majority of students will probably never use and which will cost untold amounts in the future to properly staff and maintain.

Worse yet, those who actually need it the most – athletic teams – are specifically being barred from using the facility.

The times where we could afford to lounge down the lazy river are over.

Sure, it would be nice to have another pool, an indoor track, a rock climbing wall, more basketball courts, more gym equipment, and, of course, a lazy river.

The good folks in Campus Recreation have done a phenomenal job helping plan and design this project. It looks like a beautiful building with lots of great features.

But not here and not now.

Not in these economic conditions.

This project should be re-evaluated immediately. We should not be stuck constructing a building just because students four years ago voted to approve the project. It might have made sense then, but certainly not now.

Let students vote whether they think this is a good idea going forward given the current economic situation.

Student fees already paid into this project could be diverted to other, more vital projects, or perhaps just held in a fund. When economic conditions and higher education budgets improve, this idea is certainly still worthy of consideration.

Now, though, is not the time.

-Zach Becker

For the Editorial Board

If you are against construction of the University Recreation Center, join our Facebook group, “MSU Students Against Construction of the University Recreation Center.”

Depending on a students course load, the costs can range from a few hundred dollars to well over a thousand.

But what if it did not have to be that way?

The technology exists now to do away with costly textbooks altogether.

Some textbook publishers already provide online e-text versions of their books for interested students, but even these only offer a marginal reduction on the price of a printed text when accounting for the fact that a student cannot sell the e-text back to the bookstore at the end of the semester.

No, current pricey e-texts are not the answer to this problem.

Instead, we advocate Missouri State to spearhead the creation of free, peer-reviewed professional e-textbooks on a multitude of academic subjects.

The software behind the popular online encyclopedia Wikipedia can make this happen. The free, open-source software allows multiple-users to work collaboratively on a project, writing and editing each other’s work.

It saves the changes made by each person in the editing process, allowing writes, rewrites, revisions, and reverts.

Unlike Wikipedia, though, these projects could only be edited by authorized users, which would include professors and select student assistants.

Working under the guidance of professors, these graduate students could write basic content or edit copy in exchange for class credit.

Why would professors work to create a free e-text, you ask?

Well, they have no reason to do so right now, but that can change with the stroke of a pen.

Professors need incentives to work on this project. Contributing to a print textbook provides both financial royalties to the professor and also is factored into tenure and advancement decisions.

Since the e-texts would be free, providing royalties would be impossible; however, the university could easily create job-related rewards for professors who contribute to free e-textbooks.

Better yet, the university could require professors to work on this project as part of their jobs and utilize the books in their classes.

With the professors on board with this project, creation of these e-texts could begin.

The initial technical setup for the project involving the Wiki online software would be minimal.

Writing, editing, and organizing these free e-texts would take a great deal of time.

Professors and graduate students could work from the ground up to create textbooks for hopefully all university classes eventually.

The great thing is that once the ground work has been set, revising and updating these e-texts would be simple, easy and instant.

Each year, professors can take the latest updates they have made and create a new edition for students. Perhaps even an at-cost print edition could be made for students who dislike e-reading.

Most of all, these e-texts would eliminate a college cost barrier, allowing more people to seek a higher education at Missouri State.

- Zach Becker

For the Editorial Board

The overarching theme of the editorial is of sound logic in suggesting greater transparency; however, the author decided to frame the article around two now-resolved cases involving accused Springfield school teachers.

These men and their families already had to go through hell battling these accusations over a several year time frame. One man was acquitted by a jury on charges of inappropriate touching of grade school children. The other had charges of common assault against a teenage student dismissed on the condition that he be clinically evaluated by a psychologist.

Justice was served and both men were cleared, yet here comes the News-Leader publishing their names and pictures once more, dragging them back into the mud just in time for the Christmas season.

Apparently, the News-Leader knows the men are guilty, despite whatever the courts say. “Don’t let accused teachers’ cases slide off public radar.” That headlines says it all. Where the criminal courts failed in their eyes, the News-Leader now wants these men tried under a disciplinary hearing under DESE. Of course, that entity already decided not to pursue action. One man is currently teaching again in the district. The other is actively trying to regain his license.

These men are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives, yet the News-Leader is calling for their heads (and for no logical reason except to create resentment, they included the active teacher’s current salary).

Under our system of government, each man is entitled to due process under the law. These men were cleared under that system of wrongdoing and they and their families should be allowed to return to whatever normalcy they can.

Regurgitating old news like this is not only irresponsible but also destructive to the community. Let sleeping dogs lie.

Zach Becker

For the Editorial Board

You can learn even more outside of it.

The university is a wholly unique institution in our society. It provides a stage where young adults can work to find themselves, cultivate interests and explore the possibilities of life.

And that exploration doesn’t end in the classroom.

At Missouri State and in Springfield, opportunities abound for enriching oneself.

Internships.

Volunteer activities.

Student groups.

Art.

Theatre.

Cinema.

There are so many chances for students to enhance their life experiences, to help others and help themselves – to expand horizons.

If all you do is go to class, do your homework and study for tests, you are only getting part of the university experience. The opportunities exist, but you have to step up and take them.

Participate in a broad range of student activities.

Volunteer at local schools or nursing homes.

Attend an art show.

Or make your own artwork.

Contribute to your college newspaper.

Escape your normal routines. Test your boundaries. Force yourself out of your comfort zone.

Find out what you truly enjoy. Make friendships that last a lifetime. Discover the things you never thought you could do.

Don’t just graduate Missouri State with a degree. Don’t just graduate knowing a bunch of facts and figures. Graduate with the experience of a lifetime.

Use this time to find out who you are and what you truly want out of life. Explore the unknown possibilities.

The opportunities are out there.

It’s up to you to seize them.

-Zach Becker

For the Editorial Board