Looking toward the future is great as long as we don’t forget about the present.

NIU President John La Tourette told the Faculty Senate Wednesday the reason the university is consolidating out in the western suburbs is because of increased technology and the rising costs of using classrooms at other universities.

This is a prudent move by La Tourette to try to nip expenses in the bud and be ready for the ever-changing technology of the days to come.

But let’s not leave the NIU in DeKalb behind. Although there may be some things that cannot be done here in DeKalb, like making the most of our computers because they are scattered across campus, there is plenty that can be done.

To start with, class availability, teacher salaries, better educational opportunities for students in the sciences, a more varied choice of classes, the list is practically endless.

When the fiscal year rolls along, it’s great to get money for out-of-town projects that will help NIU as a whole, but the financial wizards should not forget to ask for cash to flow through this DeKalb site.

La Tourette said, “We have to exploit the opportunities that are out there.” Fine, exploit away, but don’t neglect the place it all started.

No matter where NIU goes, it will always have its roots in the corn.