State universities created for sons of toil

We were particularly struck by the following editorial letter to the Indianapolis Star dated Friday, November 10, 2006. While clearly discussing Purdue in particular, we think Mr. Morills comments are worth remembering as our state universities and community colleges race ahead further and further from their roots. As always, the emphases are our own:

I was disappointed in my alma mater, Purdue, and Indiana University, after reading The Star article ("In-state students increasingly on the outs," Oct. 30.) It felt like I just got kicked out of the house so my dad can give my room to a stranger from Illinois.

The state university's first priority is with the natives because we pay for them through our taxes. Purdue is certainly to be beholden to sons of the state because it is a land-grant college whose chief congressional architect, Rep. Justin Smith Morrill, said in 1862: "This bill proposes to establish at least one college in every state upon a sure and perpetual foundation, accessible to all, but especially to the sons of toil."

Admission standards are expected and understood. However, these state universities were not designed for the intelligentsia and their own elitist ends by recruiting "talent" and exclusive bumper-sticker honor society students. They were designed for us -- the sons of toil.

Greg Rosen

Indianapolis