Our Crisis and Our Opportunity

Dear Editor:
As residents of Eastern Utah we have a crisis and an opportunity. The crisis affects every individual in Eastern Utah. Continuing a trend over recent years enrollment at USU Eastern, our college, is again down 3 percent for Spring semester. Recent changes including layoffs at the college have resulted in the loss of good people and families as well as the economic loss of nearly a half million dollars. Besides being one of the oldest, largest, and most stable contributors to our economy development, our college is also a major reason that people and business chose to settle here. The college services and its people enrich our communities and lives at every level.
This steady down trend is a result of continued loss of identity and autonomy and now is at a level similar to the crisis that our community faced in 1954. Then the governor and legislators had proposed dissolving of the college. The citizens responded to the crisis saved the college and literally thousands of us have benefited from their actions.
Fortunately USU President Noelle Cockett of USU has also given us an opportunity to reverse the trend and deal with that crisis. She and others plan to visit us in the very near future to “talk to all stakeholders about the needs and direction of the college.”
Just as those citizens stake holders in 1954 responded so we now have the challenge to turn this crisis into an opportunity. Who are todays stake holders? Certainly every resident in every county in Eastern Utah. We have the most to gain or lose from the success of our college. As in 1954 there is not room for apathy, detachment, defeatism, indifference or inaction.
One of the proposals to be made will be to realign the college with the original agreement of affiliating our college with USU and to maintain and strengthen that affiliation while restoring autonomy and identity with balance and respect. That proposal is a win-win that enhances both USU and USU EASTERN in reversing the trend and promoting growth in enrollment and services.
As residents you need to let your voice be heard by calling, writing, and/or emailing college and university administrators and local elected officials; and by encouraging awareness and support by your family, friends neighbors, and organization; and by attending relevant public meetings.
Now is the time. you are the person, and collectively we have the influence and power to insure that our college, USU Eastern, with restored identity and autonomy not only survives but thrives.
Jim Piacitelli
Price