As one of the more outspoken critics the past three years of the growing lag in state spending for public higher education in Illinois, I would like now to publicly and sincerely thank those Illinois legislators who voted responsibly last Friday to help relieve the financial plight confronting so many of our state’s public schools, community colleges and universities.

Special thanks must also go to Gov. James R. Thompson for his early leadership of the tax advocacy campaign, to Sen. Phil Rock for his early support and for making the campaign bipartisan and ultimately to House Speaker Michael Madigan, the other legislative leaders and all the representatives and senators of both major parties who joined in passing the final income tax bill through the General Assembly.

Additional recognition should go to Rep. John Countryman who had the courage and conviction to vote for the Madigan-Rock tax increase, which is so essential to the future of education in Illinois. Also, it was his sponsorship of the cigarette tax that will allow us to build Faraday II and to plan a permanent building for engineering. Moreover, both Rep. Countryman and Sen. Welch worked together to make an arena in DeKalb a definite possibility. Friday, June 30, was a great day for our entire community. Our great appreciation, John and Pat!

The added money will not immediately solve all of the problems of higher education because there has been an erosion of support for over a decade. A high level of funding will be required for several years to bring our budgets back to the level needed to serve our students. Problems such as overcrowded or unavailable classes, non-competitive faculty salaries, deteriorating buildings and outmoded equipment will take time to rectify. A commitment beyond the two-year surcharge period is needed to restore Illinois public higher education to the high-quality position it formerly occupied and deserves. The new funding, however, gives our faculty, staff and students hope for the future. With these dollars we can begin again to make education a powerful instrument for economic development in Illinois. We can expand access to include our growing minority population, giving them the educational opportunities they desire and the state the educated work force it needs to be competitive in the global economy.

The growing support we have received over the past three years from citizens, from the business community, from a very large segment of the news media and especially from the editorial boards and staffs at the state’s most influential newspapers and ultimately from a majority of legislators, is important to us and most heartwarming.

We thank all who have recognized our needs and who have demonstrated the foresight to do something about them.

John LaTourette

NIU President