Bill favors private colleges

To the editor:A former curator of the University of Missouri, John Lichtenegger, presented a statement of principle to the faculty council opposing Senate Bill 389, which seeks to give the legislature control over tuition at the university, mandates reports by students of both public and private aid they receive for college, provides for state scholarship aid and limits lawful research the university may undertake.

Lichtenegger accurately points out that the overall effect of this bill is to attack academic freedom and allow the legislature to micromanage higher education. He points out that this is a manifestly bad idea which attacks academic freedom. Academic freedom is important. It allows universities to explore even unpopular truths and insulates them from the passions of the political moment.

While I agree entirely with Lichtenegger's point, I want to mention one other aspect of this bill. It provides for state support for scholarships to students. It sets out maximum dollar amounts by classification of college. That is, the bill provides a maximum of $1,000 for students at two-year public colleges, $2,150 for students at four-year public colleges and $4,600 to students at private colleges. We are talking about public tax dollars.

Not only are public tax dollars to be used for private colleges, but our public money is to be provided in greater amounts to students at private colleges. This is wrong, and the bill should be defeated.

JOHN L. COOK, Cape Girardeau