The Crow's Nest

Robbie Crowley
Campus & Beyond Editor

It’s springtime and budgeting is in the air. Sure, traditionalists may say that love is still in the air, but I urge them to take another breath. Valentine’s Day is behind us—any shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat is probably from pollen allergies or checking your bank account. It’s tax season in a recession and most of us are searching the couch cushions for pennies to pinch.

Universities too face budget cuts. Like many universities, USF St. Petersburg is constantly making decisions on how to spend the money from raised student fees during this recession. Thank goodness the official logo change was near the top of the list. I now can type “USFSP” instead of “USF St. Petersburg.” Goodbye, calloused fingers. As the “new” logo is being incorporated around campus (and old signs are rotting in the parking garage), it has also created a new game for students on campus: spot the new logo! Here’s a clue for those new to the game—look down. Many buildings now have bold green “USFSP” rugs for students to wipe dirt off their shoes or bare feet.

But as universities sometimes focus on a new image, funds for direr, tangible needs can get overlooked temporarily. In my days at Eckerd College, I was ready to fly the coup when one master plan proposed a waterslide on campus, but I was still breathing in asbestos and mold in the archaic dorms. USFSP has its own issues, and as money is shifted and tossed about, USFSP could be on its way to being a unique university without a campus newspaper.

Budget cuts can only go so far until they hit the bone of an organization. Although Gov. Rick Scott enjoys budget cutting through the bone so he can gnaw on something, budget cuts shouldn’t be so severe that they cripple an organization. The Crow’s Nest went bi-weekly (not to be confused with bi-curious) and cut writing positions to accommodate a smaller budget. Even so, it’s questionable that there will be enough funds to print the remaining three issues for students.

Yes, students still receive their education and degrees without a student newspaper. But find a top-rated university that doesn’t have a student newspaper. Nothing says “fine education” like a journalism degree from a university with no student media.

A university’s student body deserves a quality newspaper to report any campus issues and how students’ money is spent. Otherwise, how will students know where the university is tossing around their rubles and shekels?

But as long as The Crow’s Nest staff has the passion to deliver news to the student body, the nest of birds will find a way. Budget cuts could transform the current bi-weekly paper into a monthly flyer, written in crayon and stained with tears. But The Crow’s Nest will fly on.

At least those rugs look nice.

Tags: budget, Cackling Hen, featured