Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Dear Alumni and Friends,
The Nebraska Alumni Association is an independent organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. Ten years ago the Association created a program called Huskers for Higher Education. The purpose of HHE is to provide information to Nebraska alumni and friends regarding federal and state issues that could impact the University. Over the years we have had hundreds of volunteers participate in the HHE program and hope that additional volunteers will join the network by responding to this e-mail. We realize that public issues can be controversial and our alumni and friends often take different positions and actions. That is part of being a Nebraskan. Probably the only thing we can agree on is the desire to beat Texas tomorrow! Nonetheless, it is important that I share with you a letter from Harvey Perlman. Over the next few weeks we will send additional information about Initiative 423, which we are researching. Our great concern continues to be what is best for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, our alumni, students, and future students. As always, we invite your response, negative or positive, for it is the Nebraska Alumni Association that serves as the independent voice for our alumni. – Edward J. Paquette, Executive Director, Nebraska Alumni Association.
Letter from Harvey Perlman.
I am writing on a matter of some urgency. I am doing so on my personal time and in my personal capacity so that I can urge you to vote against Initiative 423 and to urge your friends and colleagues to do the same. I 423 is a state spending lid similar to one adopted in Colorado. I know of no single development that more directly threatens the ability of the University to serve Nebraska and its young people.
I will not bore you with detailed arguments. You can find them at www.notinnebraska.org. You should know that the leading agricultural, business and human resource organizations oppose I 423.
I will tell you that the universities in Colorado have struggled under a similar lid – state support decreased, tuition increased significantly, and their momentum came to a halt. I am so proud of what UNL has accomplished in the last 6 years. Our enrollment is up. We are finally seeing families choose UNL as their first choice over other universities in our region and in increasing numbers over nationally prestigious universities. Our research activity crossed $100 million last year – that’s money brought into the state to create jobs (our estimate is 3100 jobs). More importantly it is building a pool of innovation and well-trained students to help build our economy. And we are trying to build on our efforts throughout Nebraska to be responsive to the needs of agriculture and rural Nebraska. I fear that passage of I 423 will bring all of this progress to an end. Significant ly higher tuition will make it more difficult to keep our young people at home. I am anxious not to have to again eliminate programs that serve Nebraskans as I had to do during recent budget cuts when state revenues decreased. But I believe passage will mean such cuts are inevitable. Because I 423 is a constitutional amendment, if the projected bad consequences are realized it will be very difficult to change the law in time to avoid real damage.
I apologize for trespassing on your time like this. As a Nebraskan, a fellow alumnus of this great University, and as a person who is so proud of the progress I see on a daily basis happening at your University, I felt I had to communicate with you to describe my fear for our future if I 423 passes. I appreciate your support for the University.
The Nebraska Alumni Association is an independent organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. Ten years ago the Association created a program called Huskers for Higher Education. The purpose of HHE is to provide information to Nebraska alumni and friends regarding federal and state issues that could impact the University. Over the years we have had hundreds of volunteers participate in the HHE program and hope that additional volunteers will join the network by responding to this e-mail. We realize that public issues can be controversial and our alumni and friends often take different positions and actions. That is part of being a Nebraskan. Probably the only thing we can agree on is the desire to beat Texas tomorrow! Nonetheless, it is important that I share with you a letter from Harvey Perlman. Over the next few weeks we will send additional information about Initiative 423, which we are researching. Our great concern continues to be what is best for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, our alumni, students, and future students. As always, we invite your response, negative or positive, for it is the Nebraska Alumni Association that serves as the independent voice for our alumni. – Edward J. Paquette, Executive Director, Nebraska Alumni Association.
Letter from Harvey Perlman.
I am writing on a matter of some urgency. I am doing so on my personal time and in my personal capacity so that I can urge you to vote against Initiative 423 and to urge your friends and colleagues to do the same. I 423 is a state spending lid similar to one adopted in Colorado. I know of no single development that more directly threatens the ability of the University to serve Nebraska and its young people.
I will not bore you with detailed arguments. You can find them at www.notinnebraska.org. You should know that the leading agricultural, business and human resource organizations oppose I 423.
I will tell you that the universities in Colorado have struggled under a similar lid – state support decreased, tuition increased significantly, and their momentum came to a halt. I am so proud of what UNL has accomplished in the last 6 years. Our enrollment is up. We are finally seeing families choose UNL as their first choice over other universities in our region and in increasing numbers over nationally prestigious universities. Our research activity crossed $100 million last year – that’s money brought into the state to create jobs (our estimate is 3100 jobs). More importantly it is building a pool of innovation and well-trained students to help build our economy. And we are trying to build on our efforts throughout Nebraska to be responsive to the needs of agriculture and rural Nebraska. I fear that passage of I 423 will bring all of this progress to an end. Significant ly higher tuition will make it more difficult to keep our young people at home. I am anxious not to have to again eliminate programs that serve Nebraskans as I had to do during recent budget cuts when state revenues decreased. But I believe passage will mean such cuts are inevitable. Because I 423 is a constitutional amendment, if the projected bad consequences are realized it will be very difficult to change the law in time to avoid real damage.
I apologize for trespassing on your time like this. As a Nebraskan, a fellow alumnus of this great University, and as a person who is so proud of the progress I see on a daily basis happening at your University, I felt I had to communicate with you to describe my fear for our future if I 423 passes. I appreciate your support for the University.