The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-09-16
Establishing A Precedent?


earlier decision concerning ALLEGATION of the
units of the university SYSTEM think ngna
ton that has greeted this decision misplaced of urfac
nature, get problem
question whether the board justified making thi
reallocation but does the boards action constitute prece
dent whereby within few Montana people will fine
themselves burdened with supporting four instead of mao
university units?
course it understandable that administrators
adversely affected by this decision should be greatly dpeased
That character They like all school administrators
ambitious memen with burning passion to build their edu
caona institutions regardless of the the students
the taxpayers all other considerations secondary
This is not SAID IN spirit OF condemnation None OF us would
sanction the hiring such executives solely
for that educational standards would suffer it
Should be borne mind that ac one OF these university heads
being human wants make his institution outstanding Such
ambitions solicited through the smoohest operating lobby
Helena during the recent legislature resulted record ap-
preparations of eight million dollars for the university units
hundred thousand than appropriated
the primary secondary school system of the
Likewise it is understandable that business groups in the
adversely affected should highly outraged
boards decision Aftera the pocketbook nerve is the most
sensitive of all.
However the outrage manifested by these two groups is
worthy OF little From the earliest days OF the
university SYSTEM both have exerted every effort
bring "punder' via legislative
political xpedency of early legislature setting up
era units sparse populated state to the present. these
groups active leaving many people of the
impression that their primary
not the education of children but the erecting of and
finer buildings etc.
Politics saved the Dillon Normal few back when
only small handful of Students other
NAL colleges it should have been disbanded Politics also
brought being Northern Montana College
of at time when the state keep
other university units alive Other than the fact there
may be merit maintaining NMC two-year institution
with credits acceptable either MSU MISC there
other than political that either Dillon NC should
be in existence today
Because of university system always being subject
the whim of polcanslegislative upt has become
extremely costly and inefficient medium of providing
youth with higher education Few other states bur-
dened with many units with duplication of
faculty and courses duplication of plants duplication of
mnsraton Montana We couldn't afford the luxury
several college presidents topped off with S12 600 year
chancellor the early days of the state and the time
again when will not be able provide adequate
funds for the units maintain high standards of
education.
AS long refuse to face realistically the problem
bringing industry and payrolls Montana
velopng economy which will make possible for
three times many people live prosper within
shall continue be faced with this dilemma education
Should the action Of the board Of examiners be permitted
stand whereby Northern Montana College finds itself
the being par with MSU MISC it only mat
very short time until friends of Eastern Montana Col
eg at Billings will be appearing before the legislature and de-
handing that their college too be granted parity with the other
three For all the logic behind the Havre and Billings posi-
tons demanding similar political considerations to those long
granted Mssoula and Bozeman will that
of approximately 100000 people, will be faced with supporting
four major educational institutions addition to two minor
Given drought and sizeabe drop the
pie of the state will do well if they maintain their and
secondary school systems without the added millions
monies needed to maintain four major Institutions
In short when the economic slump comes, may well
find ourselves loaded with added millions buildings
because of the multiplicity of Implications surrounding three