Still another legislator stated that we should close the entire University system down and just keep small community colleges around. Then we heard from the legislator who would not support the University because the Anchorage campus did not have dorms like Fairbanks so he had to send his child to another school. These people ran on a platform which stated that they supported education and supported cuts in state spending. No one ever ran on the platform of supporting education but not supporting the University of Alaska. More importantly, however, is the reality that these legislators do not realize the consequences of their actions.
Many communities depend on revenues generated from the college campuses.
If anyone has been lied to, it has been the citizens of Alaska. We voted for legislators who would spur on economic growth and keep Alaskans working. Instead, their actions are about to put long time Alaskans on the unemployment roles. If we can't educate Alaskans for jobs, then we face importing personnel from outside to fill Alaskan jobs while Alaskans go begging. There is something wrong with this picture.