River Campus funds

Southeast Missouri State University received good news just as it was gearing up for homecoming and a week of special events officially opening the River Campus for the visual and performing arts. It came in the form of a $16.5 million check.

The check represents the major portion of the state's share of the $50 million River Campus project. Other funding has come from private donations and from hotel-restaurant sales-tax revenue approved by voters several years ago.

The state's portion came through a special initiative of Gov. Matt Blunt to use some of the assets of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority to pay for major projects at Missouri colleges and universities -- the same institutions that provide facilities for recipients of low-interest students loans backed by MOHELA.

Having all of the River Campus funding in place after several years of negotiations and behind-the-scene political maneuvering in Jefferson City made last weekend's dedication all the more enjoyable. Many individuals -- city, university and state officials -- have worked tirelessly since the inception of the River Campus to secure adequate funding. Their reward is to see students and faculty members making use of the state-of-the-art River Campus, which is helping to attract more students and bolster the university's image.

Those whose cooperation made the River Campus financially possible deserve a great deal of credit for their diligence.