By Nate Haney

Last week’s editorial about the $1 million surprise Governor Fletcher awarded the University of Louisville (U of L) is ill-informed, and disappointing.

Briefly summarizing, the editorial suggested that Governor Fletcher has not noticed U of L in his term and that the Governor has funded beautification for “U of L’s front door” while leaving behind important issues such as “dilapidated facilities”, “parking facilities” for the new health science research center, and lastly for not allowing U of L to expand its football stadium.

The editorial didn’t stop there. It went on to scold a U of L Vice-President for complimenting the Governor on his dedication to safety on campus, then it finished up by implying the $1 million surprise was one of politics, and that the Governor has little concern for the projects “vital to the school’s success”.

If the truth be told, it’d take every page of this week’s Louisville Cardinal to tell.

To suggest that Governor Fletcher has not noticed U of L is ludicrous. It’s true, however, U of L didn’t get all it wanted, but it got a lot of it.

Most of the editorial discusses capital projects (i.e. buildings), of which, in the three and a half years the Governor has been in office U of L has received over $145 million in funding.

This includes projects such as the $98 million health science research center that the editorial mentions, and the $8 million multipurpose field house and practice center.

The editorial author must have forgot about the $8 million renovation of the Home of the Innocents, the nearly $10 million dollar expansion to Cardinal Arena, and the $13 million construction of the Center for Predictive Medicine.

I probably don’t need to remind the editorial author about the $400 million basketball arena, and surely the author didn’t forget about the $5 million infrastructure project to develop Shelby Campus.

As a matter of fact, U of L has received nearly as much from Governor Fletcher’s administration in three and a half years, as they had in the previous eight years. The Governor has not noticed U of L?

I hardly think so. President Ramsey said in a press release, “Governor Fletcher understands the vital role the University of Louisville plays in shaping this community. Every time we asked for his help in these economic development issues, he has been there for us.”

As for the “dilapidated facilities” and “parking facilities” that Governor Fletcher vetoed, the editorial didn’t mention the most obvious of news of the past legislative session.

Allow me. The Governor asked that the vetoed “dilapidated facilities” and “parking facilities” be restored – the legislature didn’t fund them this time around due to legislative gridlock.

Concerning the issue of universities having the capacity to independently bond their projects, the Governor is skeptical, and for good reason.

If universities had independent bonding capacity, the Commonwealth is still responsible for all liabilities if universities default on the bonds – the position is to prevent the universities from incurring liabilities to the state without legislative approval.

Vice-President John Drees’ compliment of Governor Fletcher’s dedication to campus safety is certainly justified.

The Governor’s Task Force on Campus Safety, the Eastern Parkway and ramp area reconfiguration, and the many road funds and infrastructure projects are plenty to validate the compliments.

Lastly, the underlying attempt to suggest that the Governor scratched all these tough, expensive, important projects, for this $1 million smoke screen, is, as we say back home, “pure hogwash”.

The $1 million surprise comes from a federal funding source. It didn’t come from the same pool of money the other projects are funded from.

Its purpose is to increase the entrance and exit into U of L, and President Ramsey discussed this issue with the Governor’s Administration.

While it is hard to get all that we want at U of L, or anywhere for that matter, it is what we do get that we should be thankful for.

I am thankful for U of L, and I am thankful for the Governor’s support for our University, whenever he gives it.

-Nate Haney

First year Law student

Former SGA EVP