Killer whales and budget cuts

March 03, 2010 Mary-Kate Roan

mkroan@connectstatesboro.com

    Like most other people, when I heard about the whale that killed his trainer, I was unnerved. Personally, I’ve never seen a Sea World show (I know, I’ve been told on many occasions how sheltered I am). I have, however, seen a marine show. I’ve watched the dolphins interact with children, and I’ve witnessed some training. A friend of mine helps train dolphins, so I know these animals get a lot of attention and are well taken care of.
    My point is simple when it comes to this: it’s not called a ‘friendly’ whale; it’s a killer whale. These whales got their name from Spanish sailors who saw them hunt other whales. Any time you have something that’s named for being a killer, chances are you might be a little crazy to swim around them.
    Speaking of killers, these budget cuts proposed to the education system should be fought. Why should you care?
    For starters, course offerings will be significantly decreased in almost all degrees. The classroom sizes that have made Georgia Southern University so appealing for so many students will go out the door after they get rid of half of the temporary staffers (most of which they have to have as practicing professionals to be accredited).
    Think of it this way: if this goes through, a student’s multimedia professor might be teaching the class to 100 students. To top that off, the professor doesn’t have any real experience with actually being in the field. You’re going to sit there and tell me that’s fair and you’re getting a quality education?
    Interesting enough, our good ole boy governor, Sonny Perdue, has recently pushed through his own agenda for the budget:
•    $9 million for a horse show complex expansion at the Perry Fairgrounds
•    $67 million for a rural development program – the same program that recently gave his home town of Warner Robins a $598,000 grant to prepare for the Little League Baseball’s relocation to there
•    $7.7 million which Perdue, a UGA veterinarian school graduate, set aside for his Alma Mater to give UGA a new veterinary learning center
•    $10 million to get the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta
    It’s your education. Do what you want with it. Already, there are protests being scheduled. Haven’t heard about them? Go to Facebook; there is a group called “USG Students for Quality Education.” If you can’t fight for your right to have a decent education, then what are you going to fight for?

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