Letters to the Editor

Letter: Overturn draconian university cuts

I am a graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage. From 2008 to 2014, I obtained both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English. Now, I am working toward a Ph.D. in Information Science. More specifically, I work on design recommendations for new and updating technologies, specifically online communities such as those found on Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook. I never thought that my education from UAA would lead me to work closely with tech experts in Silicon Valley, nor did I imagine it would put me on the fast-track to potentially be hired at an Ivy League school or a research team with Facebook or Microsoft, but that is a very real possibility once I complete my program. And with the future of Alaska’s higher education system looking so grim, I doubt I could ever return to the state, which is something I had hoped to do at the end of my program.

Let me be clear: there is no way I would be as prepared for my Ph.D. program and my career if it were not for the affordable, incredible education I received at the University of Alaska Anchorage. This university, Gov. Mike Dunleavy says, cannot be all things to all people, but I think he makes an egregious error by summarizing the budget cuts to the University of Alaska as a minor disappointment. Instead, I would urge the state Legislature to consider the long-term damage this will cause to the people of Alaska. Without a strong higher education system, I fear for the state’s ability to innovate, grow and maintain a sustainable economy. While I am, regretfully, no longer an Alaska resident, I urge the rest of the community to contact their legislators and speak out against these draconian slashes to the budget.

— Brianna Dym

Anchorage

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