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First of all, it is extremely gratifying to know the concisely titled Secretary of the Kentucky Education Department Cabinet believes, emphatically, that education is important. However, it is rather ironic that such an esteemed individual should begin an op-ed piece touting the Governor’s efforts to remove financial restraints from higher education while never mentioning specific efforts to do so.

The statement, which reads eerily like propaganda, is quick to remind students of the state government’s budget expansions for higher education, but fails to address specific concerns of students at the University of Louisville.

In fact, U of L received only 74% of the funding recommended by the state government’s own Council on Post-secondary Education. In contrast, the University of Kentucky received 153% of the Council’s recommended funding.

It is encouraging that Governor Ernie Fletcher and Secretary Owens are increasing funding to post-secondary education, even if the only projects mentioned in the letter (see right) are for construction projects. However, in a column submitted to the University of Louisville student newspaper, its students should be addressed.

U of L students are skipping class tomorrow and protesting Frankfort because of rapidly increasing tuition, 25% in two years (2007-2008), and the perception, if not reality, of neglect by the state government.

If the Secretary would like to make a statement to the students at U of L, these are the issues that need to be addressed, not some vague announcement of construction projects that may or may not even be at U of L.

It is further alarming that the Secretary would mask such meaningless banter in the guise of efforts to allow “talents and interests dictate an individual’s pathway, (not) financial resources.” Curiously, this is precisely what the students at U of L are seeking tomorrow in Frankfort because rapidly increasing tuition, about 12% yearly compared to a 6.3% national average, is smothering talented but underprivileged prospective students.

Unfortunately, the Secretary appears to be misleading U of L students with a classic bait and switch, leading with what we want to hear, tuition concerns, and supporting it with unrelated evidence, construction funding. If the Education Cabinet wishes to preempt student rallies with comments on its dedication to college students, it would be a good idea to actually address student concerns and not insult them with rhetorical trickery.

Such deception only implies that the Education Cabinet is in fact neglecting U of L. Why would they seek to publish a rather random announcement of statewide university construction projects in The Louisville Cardinal? Perhaps there is simply no encouraging news to be issued about the university itself.