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Show THE THUNDERBIRDHSOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITYDMONDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 1991 PAGE 4 IV3EEY CR1YEK1A the economics of education, the principal problem is resources; the corollary is unlimited debate over disposition of those reserves. In higher learning, the allocatablc assets held it a highest premium are funds, buildings and professors. Many argue that of this triumvirate, funds are j aramount, for without dollars there ;ue no buildings in whijh to meet. This vision of education is productively short lighted for two reasons. First, it discounts the value of the instructors who are professors indeed of the very kt owledge, expertise and skills which assists students in their pieparation for life. Second, the equation of assets e jual money, buildings and teachers starkly excludes stuiients. Along with professors, shall we not count students as the great wealth of an educational system? What vah e, after all, does the state ascribe to higher educations two most significant factors? 3n Unfortunately, Utahs college and university professors are paid at least $10,000 less than their colleages at similar schools in other slates. By appropriating annual compensation ini reases that are quickly eroded by the cost of living, the Legislature speaks awkwardly about the valuer of teachers. Although teacher salaries blemish Utahs horizon, it appears that the Board of Regents plans to replace open enrollment with more stringent admission standards will ultimately serve the interests of the student. With over 70 percent of Utahs college students attending research schools, the community college is under-useBy raising the admission criteria for the larger schools, the students who are most likely to quit school those who are unprepared for college level writing and math and those who are directionless can be guided to community and junior colleges. These schools offer preparatory courses that bolster the abilities of students lacking basic skills, thus ensuring their success in earning a baccalaureate degree. Of course, an admission policy change will be unsavory to those who are turned away. We nevertheless support an elimination of open admissions. Often, in an attempt to obtain certain desirable objectives, less than palatable means must be taken. For example, survey classes are filled to maximum capacity in order to afford much smaller classes. And while neither instructor nor student like the cumbersome section, both relish the more intimate course. TV-t- E NOW' AAKE EYE OF THE OIKt CAME L d. upper-divisio- n 100-lev- el 400-lev- el THE THUND SOUT HERN UTAH UNIVERSITY CEDAR CITY, UTAH Editor Kathleen Clove Arts Editor Cheris Tucker Managing Editor Natalie Coombs Production Manager Rachelle Sherratt Opinion Director Dennis Freire Copy Editor Jennifer Morley Advertising Representative Tony Dail Photo Editor Erie Rodcrk k Staff Production Head I.ynn Dennett Sports Editor Jay Hinton Faculty Adviser Larry Baker I hr ii'.mln'-nris published each Monday and Thursday of the academic year bv and for the siudi hi bodv Southern Utah University and is not affiliated with the Universitys department "I lonmuinii alum The views and opinions expressed in The Thundrhad arc those of individual wiiirrs and do not neesartlv relied the views of the institution, faculty, stall" or student bodv in ycneuil lie unsned editorial directly allow is the opinion of The Ihunki had as a single entity. rs in the editor must be typed and include the name and phone number, Only the name will W' pruned. Names ill not be withlteld under any circumstances and the editor rvserws editing pri ileges. .e iters must be submitted by noon Fridays for Monday editiotis; 5 p.m. Tuesdays for Thursilas editions. Grievances: Am indi kIu.iI with a grevance against Ihr Ihuntlnhod should direct such problem first to the editor. Il ume olwd. that grievance should then lx directed to die adviser. If still unicsnlved. the gricancc should lie directed to the SLU Publications Council, 3867710. Ihr Thuninhird otiites m SIT lei hnologv Building 001 Mail at SUU Box T84. Cedar Oitv. U'l M 7'JI). Plume (Hill) FAX ;8tv:)487. . Is second best enough for U.S.? Access' is a recurring column through which members of the campus community may address themselves to topics of concern andor interest. Todays column is by Eric Roderick, a freshman majoring in communication. While the war in the gulf went close to clockwork for the U.S. and its allies, the war in American private industry is anything but fine tuned. Indeed, the Armys incredibly accurate Patriot missile seemed to glorify American ingenuity, but it was ironically the birthplace of the Walkman that provided the technology. In a recent U.S. General Accounting Office report these startling facts were stated: Over 90 percent of the microchips which run everything from Apache helicopters to Ml tanks were built, not in the Silicon Valley, but in Japan, with whom our trade deficit today is nearing $60 billion. Where has the image and reputation of the hard working American gone? Even though Coca-Col- a last year surpassed Sony as the most widely known product label across the globe, the financial facts are sadly well known: Out of the worlds 10 largest banks, nine of them are Japanese. We may be tops in beef, and football, but the Japanese continueoranges their dominance over the U.S.s e automakers. For instance, Honda Motors recently announced the production of 65 mile per gallon Civics. Why cant we make such an efficient car? This technology is no secret to G.M., but e production similar to Japans appears to be too much of a headache for us to deal with. Just 10 years ago big-thre- on-lin- our defense electronics trade with Japan was fairly secure. Today, however, the world is moving faster than even the CIA can keep up with. Although the future of the Soviet Union is uncertain at best, it is clear that a future free-traagreement between Japan and the Soviets would be a frightening pact for the U.S. defense industry. With Russian mass production techniques utilizing arsenal Japanese components, Americas high-tec- h might eventually become inferior. We would be unable to compete and will face overwhelming unemployment. Our losses would skyrocket into the We may be tops in beef, oranges and football, but the Japanese continue their dominance over the U.S. s Big Three automakers. trillions of dollars. Although I am a strong supporter of the last two presidents, I honestly feel that we must now focus more of our attention on domestic policy and on reducing unnecessary government spending. Specifically, we need to concentrate on our educational system, for it is the source of America s future strength and leadership. In our search for solutions to domestic problems, we should listen to the criticism of Akio Morita, Sony s CEO, when he said, Americans think only in terms of minute action, while we Japanese think in terms. |