Division III would save money

I read with interest the front-page article about the budget cuts at Southeast Missouri State University.

The purpose of a university is to provide undergraduate and graduate levels of education. Therefore, it seems to me that consideration should be given to Southeast becoming a Division III NCAA school. It would appear that this action would save a fair amount of money since the schools that are members of Division III do not offer athletically related financial aid to their student-athletes.

Southeast would not be alone if it took this action. There are more than 440 institutions that are members of Division III. This makes it the largest of the three divisions sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

JOHN PIEPHO, Cape Girardeau