STAFF EDITORIAL: Classes, learning shouldn’t feel budget cuts first

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is an institution for students above all else. Student learning takes precedent over all the research, performance, athletic, philanthropic and corporate ambitions of this great campus.

At least it should.

Last week, a number of students in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications showed up to class early in the morning and were told they couldn't take the class because they didn't have the correct prerequisites.

The logic was sound, except for the fact that all of these students were told when registering for classes that they could take this course, since the necessary prerequisite was, and had been for a while, completely filled up. The college only offers one section of the prerequisite course, and the class itself has a maximum capacity of 12 students, even though there are more than 30 students vying for seats.

CoJMC has since remedied this debacle and allowed the students in question to take the classes they were promised, and we applaud them for this. Although, no student will be allowed to take another class without the needed prerequisite.

Yet the basic problem persists. There is still only one section of the course available, and it still only contains 12 seats, yet a large number of students are now required to take it before they can progress in their major. The college is essentially bottlenecked, restricting a speedy graduation for several students.

What is to stop the college from adding another section or two of this class or to increase its enrollment cap? They say restrictions of faculty and budget.

We take issue with this.

We understand budget and staffing restrictions are very real issues and wouldn't urge any college on this campus to attempt something they are not able to do, especially during these economic times. However, it seems that classes and/or the resources available to teach classes are always the first things to be cut back whenever budget problems are encountered.

This is the problem.

We are the students. We are the reason every college at this university exists. We are here to learn, and the colleges are here to teach. Not to mention, we are all paying a lot of money to do so. Research, philanthropy, speakers, performances and projects are all great, but they don't take precedent over our learning.

We still see this university hosting speakers, conducting research, erecting buildings and monuments, and pouring money into philanthropic and athletic ventures. We do not see them rerouting any of this money to help us learn, leaving the colleges to fend for themselves.

This must change. Give us our classes. Give us our education. Give us our money's worth. We expect no less than what we pay for.

opinion@dailynebraskan.com