Blind Spot

In driver's ed, we all learned to check our blind spot periodically to prevent the inevitable consequences of entering space already occupied. On the basketball court, it was the guy we didn't see coming who stole the ball from us.

Agricultural blind spots vary by crop, livestock group, and the different practices employed in our operations. For example, the Humane Society video of downer cows caught the beef and dairy industries by surprise and led them to accept previously inconceivable regulation. When we fail to check our blind spot, we are forced to negotiate from inherently weak positions.

Currently, Idaho is attempting to change lanes without checking its blind spot. The blind spot in question regards the draconion cuts being made to our agricultural extension and research programs. We are reducing staff, closing facilities and abandoning future advances in seed genetics, pest control, storage, and marketing.

There is short-term ignorance being displayed by both legislators and university administration. The University of Idaho is in danger of ignoring its key advantage over the other state universities: research (primarily agricultural). If we continue to cut the quality and breadth of our ag research, we will lose qualified staff who will defect to institutions where they are able to research and publish findings on relevant questions. Not a lot of quality ag research can be done in an office on a computer.

The people who make up the University of Idaho community have given their life's work to establish its reputation as a first-class research and teaching intstitution. Ten years from now, if we continue on this path of attrition, we will look back and realize that decisions made in crisis have had a devastating effect on the UofI's ability to fulfill even basic expectations.

The solutions available to us are not cheap or popular; they are necessary.
1) Eliminate competition among state universities for the same programs. Boise State should not be allowed to operate a law school, and UofI should not offer an MBA. ISU should be allowed to focus on Health Sciences without competition from BSU or UofI.
2) In an effort to recruit more profitable out-of-state students, Idaho has tried to become an everyman's university. This has proven to be short-sighted. We don't ask our hooker to prepare our tax statement, and I for sure don't look to my accountant for sinful pleasures. Eliminate marginal programs and refocus our efforts on achieving excellence in areas for which we have had a traditional advantage.

If the legislature would check its higher education blind-spot, they would be horrified to see a time when the word 'adequate' is too lofty a descriptor barreling down upon them.