One way or the other, the public is paying.

When the Governor’s Mansion, maintenance courtesy of the public, looks our over his subjects like a castle from medieval times, what else could the public expect?

The comparison to President Ford is a poor one within this context. He was a collegiate athlete. After playing football through college, I can tell you that, for me, I learned more about life on the field than in the class room. The need to assemble a team in order to attain a common goal, working for the good of the group rather than flying solo, etc. etc.

The world needs engineers and nurses, and teachers, and historians. But more often than not, it seems the “team”is led by an ex-jock. I hope that some day people will see that we are not all a bunch of pampered idiots that serve no purpose other than to give you something to cheer about on Saturday afternoon. With regard to the stadium expansion, the minds we need to expand our academic efforts are drawn to a successful university.

Like it or not, athletics give the school the platform to emphasize the scholastic. As far as the “sky-boxes” go, the businesses and individuals that are going to shell out the Major bucks to have them are paying their way. And I would wager that the leaders of those successful companies are filled with ex-jocks. the most valid point being made is one of growth. No question that the increased success of the university will spawn more growth. It is what it is!

These new ultra-plush stadium ” boxes” are going to cost the state 27 million in a bond issue the taxpayers will be told to pay back. Why not save that money and let the self-important hot-shots who need these luxury digs sit with us peons? Then lets use 10% of all sports profits to finance academic programs and for low-income students who are struggling to get their degree?

I urge every citizen to contact your state legislators and let them know you like to see something like the above for all the students at BSU as we enjoy ALL the great sports programs at BSU for men and women.

EDITOR NOTE–As we understand it the taxpayers are on the hook only as a guarantee for the bonds.

Acording to the Statesman this morning under the heading Raises there is still a 2.15 million funding gap on the new stadium suites and the 3 million he hope’s to make on the Fiesta Bowl game could be used to fill the gap. Gee shouldn’t that be used more more important things than a nice seat for the wealthy.

What am I not understanding here?
Maybe it has to do with being a growthophobes?

Wrong question. It should be “I wonder what will sell more newspapers: the Broncos winning the Fiesta Bowl, or the funeral of a former president, who served before 50% of the population was even born.”

I can’t fault the Statesman… they’re making a business decision. They’re in business to sell newspapers, NOT necessarily to keep their readers informed of current events. (Arguably, bad decisions by editors are why printed-news readership is down by 10% or so every year. Maybe they SHOULD give Ford’s funeral more coverage.)

Regarding the apparent emphasis of sporting events over war, poverty, death and destruction, disasters, etc. – might I suggest that sports are a means that many people use to temporarily emotionally escape the misery on every side. Same thing with the cartoon page, Entertainment Tonight (GAG!), MySpace, etc.

But, if sports really do bring in the bucks, why don’t those wonderful sporty people share a big chunk of that dough with the university that makes their lives possible?

After all, doesn’t the academic portion of the school exist only so the athletes can play in the university-level leagues as they prepare for pro sports? Hmmm?

(I don’t see fans cheering or the Boise Daily turning its entire paper over to,say, somebody getting a Rhodes scholarship or suchlike.)

As for the Daily. Isn’t it interesting that a football game gets hundreds more inches of type than a former president of the United States, at the time of his death?

I wonder what affects America — and the world — more: what Gerald Ford did in his brief presidency, or a bunch of guys winning a game. Hmmm ….

And the folks with the orange and blue shirts, faces, etc., sure pushed Iraq and thousands of our military people off the front page, the TV and much of the Web.
Arrrggghhhh!

Just look at the new Ada County Courthouse if you want a recent example of a deal that sounded good on the surface, but was unsustainable.

James, don’t let BSU hear you say that their engineering alumni can’t find jobs in Idaho! Unfortunately, a lot of new graduates do have to leave the state to find work and can only return when they’re more established. But the 620 engineering students mentioned above are only about 40% of the total enrollment in the College of Engineering.

Wouldn’t it be great if there would be as much a committment to living up to the oft-repeated KBSU-tagline, “A Metropolitan Research Institute of Distinction” as there is to catering to the apparent hedonism of the Athletics Department?

Maybe I’m wrong. I’m sure BSU will soon be releasing plans for its Fine Arts Department Skyboxes, its English Department Luxury Seats, and its Biology Department Penthouse Suites.

I’ve heard rumors that the Music Department will be forming its own version of the Bronco Athletic Association. They’ve been toying with the simple enough name, Music Department Association – perhaps hoping to capitalize on the acronym MDA. Of course, music majors will have to get used to being called Jerry’s Kids.