insight

THEIR OPINION

By Rebecca V. Ferrell

Referendums C&D wise investment for Colorado's future

At the moment, Colorado is caught in a struggle between those who want to shrink state government to a size convenient for bathtub drowning, and those who believe that state government creates a commonwealth for the common good.

Referendum C is the heart of this debate. Some opponents truly believe government should be downsized until it can no longer provide vital services. Major contributors to the opposition campaign are wealthy non-residents of Colorado, who want to see what happens when a state goes bankrupt. I'll make a prediction: if Colorado can't provide services to support our economy, our economy will spiral downward. Services we take for granted will disappear or require fees to be paid. College tuition will rise dramatically, even as quality suffers. If the state can't afford roads, they can be privatized into tollways. Anyone who wants to operate toll roads, buy state buildings cheap, or land a contract for privatizing state services, wants to see Referendum C fail.

Some opponents are Colorado citizens, who truly believe quality higher education should be only for the wealthy. Some wealthy folks want to hold onto their wealth by keeping opportunities limited for others. Some politicians oppose higher education routinely because they think a less educated electorate is easier to fool.

These ideas are opposite of Metro's mission. As a "college of opportunity," our mission is to offer high-quality, yet affordable higher education to people who otherwise would be unable to attend college. Simply put, if referendums C and D do not pass, Metro will not be able to fulfill its mission. Without adequate state funding, some combination of large tuition increases and major reductions in programs and services will be unavoidable. The very students who most need Metro's opportunities will not be able to afford tuition. Students who manage to pay tuition will have trouble getting courses they need, and quality will surely suffer. There will be fewer faculty, fewer staff, fewer services, less opportunity.

This is not a political scare tactic. Regardless of whether our situation is analyzed by the office of the Republican governor, the Republican-dominated board of trustees, or the new Democratic majority in the state legislature, the result is the same. Referendums C and D are supported by Governor Owens, the Metro Board of Trustees, and many members of the Colorado General Assembly.

I support C because it is time to drop the artificial limits on our state's ability to grow. It's time to invest in the future. Colorado can become very prosperous if we rebuild education and infrastructure. Educated citizens create a dynamic economy. Businesses move to states with work forces that can think and innovate, states that offer excellent educations for employees' children. This creates opportunities for all of us to develop and use our talents. The best jumpstart for Colorado's economy is investing now to make it a better place to live.

The budget arguments can be complex, but the question is simple. Do I choose to keep a rebate averaging about $98 per year, an amount that won't pay my road tolls or increased tuition? Or do I chip in that money and invest in all of our futures?

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 1. I've thought about it and made up my mind. I hope you will too.

The opinions here are mine. I certainly don't speak for the entire Metro faculty, who are notably diverse in their thinking. To confuse my opinions with those of Metro would likely insult us both. No state resources were consumed in the writing of this column.

Rebecca V. Ferrell, Ph.D., is a biology professor at Metro. She may be contacted at ferrellr@mscd.edu