Dear editor:

An open letter to Paul Hoeft,

In reference to your column of Jan. 29, I must ask a question. How many statistics can you make up to justify the slash and burn activities against the University of Wyoming’s budget? You did not include any references to those numbers in your column which was published just a little over a week before the new budget session begins. Where did you get this information and where did you learn how to read university financial statements? Your biography shows that you have an associate’s degree from a technical college. Did that education include statistics and accounting classes? Because if it did not, I don’t think you are qualified to pass judgement on university funding.

The University of Wyoming is designated as a land grant college, which means that it is an institution of higher education designated by a U.S. state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890 or a beneficiary under the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994. There are 106 institutions in all: 57 which fall under the 1862 act, 19 under the 1890 act, and 35 under the 1994 act. Simply put, Wyoming is required to fund our university.

Wyoming only has one university and while our community colleges serve an important role, we need UW to be the best it can be. There is a lot of talk lately about young people leaving the state for better opportunities and cutting the UW budget will be the nail in the coffin. Degree programs will be canceled so students will go elsewhere for their education. Why do you insist on comparing UW to CSU? There is no comparison between these colleges as they provide different educational programs. CSU is a land grant college as well; however, their funding should not matter how UW is funded. Different programs and funding sources cannot be lumped together for comparisons.

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Laurie Larsen

Powell