This past week, I’ve been really involved with some local high school students, whether I was tutoring them after school or judging theater competitions on the weekend.
It was kind of fun to be back in that atmosphere, to be so involved in sports, theater and leadership.
During the theater competition, though, I overheard a couple of girls talking about how expensive it was going to be for them if they made it to regionals, state or — god forbid — nationals. They actually had to pay for their own bus to the competition.
Our university offers over 150 majors and more than 400 different clubs and organizations. We are privileged to always have something to do on this campus, but many students still in high school or at smaller universities do not have that option.
Many schools simply cannot afford extracurricular programs, let alone new books or field trips. With so much emphasis on education in this country you would think that we would find some money in our budget for fine arts and athletics programs.
A friend of mine, who lives overseas, was recently applying to smaller schools with good football programs. He was following up with the coach from Grand Rapids Community College when he found out the program had been cut. The Grand Rapids Raiders are one of the leading community college teams, having an 11-0 season and winning the Midwest Football Conference.
What caused such a thriving football program to be cut? Simply put, cost. Instead of scaling back or really looking at the finances, the simple answer was to scratch the entire program.
I think it’s a travesty when fine arts programs and athletics programs are cut for the good of the school. I understand we are in a recession, but studies have shown students who play instruments or read music do better in math and are more likely to learn a foreign language.
Football players take dance classes to work on their footwork, and studies have shown art therapy in high school helps de-stress students. Athletics builds teamwork, sportsmanship, confidence and problem solving.
If our programs are cut, what do we do about a creative outlet? Many students look to their schools for funding because they cannot afford it.
My youngest brother is just starting to get interested in sports and art. One second, he wants to play football like his older brother, the next he wants to be on stage. I just look at him and pray that, when he gets to high school and college, he has the opportunity to do one or the other, or even both.
Our country prides itself on fostering individuality and growth. Without our extracurricular programs we may as well be cookie-cutter mindless zombies.
The government really needs to look at the programs they cut and spend money on. In the past decade our test scores have tanked when compared to other countries.
We spend more money on wasteful earmarks or ludicrous lobbying issues, when in reality what would probably solve all of our problems is a better education system.
If you go to the OU, you are extremely lucky: We have enough money so that no program goes unfunded, even if it is only partially funded.
Many smaller schools do not.
If you do not want another Grand Rapids Raiders disaster, we need to demand more money spent on education. Our debt gets bigger and bigger every day, and funding for education gets smaller and smaller.
As you look at presidential candidates and get ready to cast your vote, look at what they stand for. If they’re talking about cutting education, then I am begging you, don’t vote for them. Education needs to be changed, and we need our extracurricular programs.
Otherwise, the world may as well end on Nov. 6.
Delaney Harness is an international area studies sophomore.
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ohyou9033 3 months, 1 week ago
When the average college student graduates not only with a bachelor's degree, but with $20,000 in debt looming over their head, I think that we need to prioritize.
When the only way to pay for graduate school is to take out loans for at least half of what the university cannot reimburse you for after you commit to working as a TA, GA, or RA, I think we need to prioritize.
I would rather be a cookie-cutter zombie, but I wouldn't be mindless. It's called an education. I'm NOT paying OU thousands of dollars a month AFTER FEDERAL AID AND GRANTS so I can work on my creativity.
What are YOU doing here?