Campus location too small

When I was in Newberg recently, I stopped by the George Fox University campus to get some idea of how many acres it would take to comfortably accommodate up to 5,000 students. That’s the projected student enrollment at OSU-Cascades by 2025.

GFU fits almost 4,000 students on 108 acres, or over twice the acreage OSU will have for its 5,000 students. I wouldn’t describe the GFU campus as overcrowded, but it seemed clear that the space was at a premium.

My guess is that the student demographics at GFU are similar to those we’ll see at OSU; that is, a mix of local and out-of-town students. Based on what I saw in Newberg, I believe it is unrealistic to assume we can comfortably squeeze 5,000 students into about 56 acres.

William Flinn

Bend

Defeat all incumbents

I call the defeat of Eric Cantor, the U.S. House of Representatives majority leader, a good start. With congressional approval ratings below 10 percent, how can any American justify voting for any incumbent, be they Republican, Democrat or Independent? These elected officials have failed the American people. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to clean house and kick their rear ends out of office. Vote the bums out!

Roger Provost

Redmond

Column on campus was painful

John Costa’s June 8 opinion editorial was truly painful. Costa used words to describe everyone who is not in favor of the west-side location. He used words such as “dream killers,” “cynical selfishness,” “destructive instinct” and “naysayers.” I’m surprised he didn’t use the word NIMBY. Guess he ran out of room in his column.

He did mention there are legitimate questions; however, his comments centered on arrogantly criticizing and demonizing everyone who has legitimate concerns about the location.

Very few cities ever have an opportunity to have a four-year university and this is the chance of a lifetime for Bend. Because of the manner in which the project has been handled, an outside observer can be led to believe that the project in its current state is being rushed and crammed into this location. This is why people have expressed their concerns. A university of this stature will certainly need room to grow and will be around for centuries. A master plan is needed. There are other Bend locations that would allow for a proper setting to be able to grow into something all Bend residents would support and be proud of.

OSU has made statements that a location study was completed before this location was selected. It would certainly be an act of goodwill if this study were published so that concerned citizens could see the rigor applied to the process.

One more thing: Costa owes everyone who has issues about this location an apology.

John Moeckel

Bend

Put the college elsewhere

I live one-half block from where OSU wants to put the college. This concerns us, we who live in a senior complex on Yates and Century drives.

They are planning 300 or so parking spots on campus. On the 10-plus acres they want to start off with, there will be at least 1,800 students. Some will have bikes, some will live on campus, so what concerns me is where will the rest of students and faculty park? I hope not on Yates or Chandler Avenue.

Also, besides the traffic on Century Drive, which I have counted 83 cars in five minutes or the bumper-to-bumper cars in the wintertime for 2½ hours passing my apartment going to Mt. Bachelor. What will happen with more traffic?

Our way of life will change. Nature in the area will change. Traffic will change. Parking will change. Bend will change.

Of all the people I have talked to, they do not want this college to be built in our neighborhood.

I hope someone will consider this as a bad idea and put the college somewhere else in Bend. There are too many people who are against it here, so that puts people on the defense for a very good thing like a four-year college.

It just makes more sense to have more acres, more planning, student housing and to start a new community where everything is in one place.

Irene Gillete

Bend

Comparing college costs

Two recent editorials discussed ways to help students with college tuition debts. Why are tuition costs so high to begin with? A community college administrator in Washington state compared her school’s yearly tuition with that of a four-year university. It was $4,200 at the community college versus an average of $10,000 at a public university.

When I graduated from a community college in 1955, the tuition was $90 per year. I transferred and graduated in 1958 from a four-year university. Tuition was $180 per year. I was able to work my way through school and I left with a student loan debt of $150.

I ran a rough comparison with my starting salary, first house and first new car against what those same items would be in today’s dollars. I estimated that inflation has upped those costs by about 10 times. When comparing today’s tuition costs versus the 1950s, I estimate that tuition costs have gone up about 50 times. Was my tuition that heavily subsidized by tax support, or has it gone up to these levels because of increased administrative costs?

Whatever the reason, I don’t see how young people can afford to attend college without a scholarship or parents who can afford to carry the load. Tuition costs have to come down so that students with modest means can afford to get the education they seek. They also need to be able to find a job when they graduate.

Dick Bryant

Redmond