Turn crisis into opportunity

Dear Editor:
    As residents of Eastern Utah we have a crisis and an opportunity.. The crisis affects every individual in Eastern Utah.
     Continuing a trend over recent years enrollment at USU Eastern, our college, is again down 3 percent for the spring semester.  Recent changes including lay offs at the college have resulted in the loss of good people and families as well as the economic loss of nearly a half-million dollars.
    Besides being one of the oldest, largest, and most stable contributors to our economic development, our college is also a major reason people and businesses choose to settle here. The college services and its people enrich our communities and lives at every level.    
    This steady down trend is a result of continued loss of identity and autonomy and now is at a level similar to the crisis that our community faced in 1954. Then the governor and legislators had proposed dissolving the college. The citizens responded to the crisis, saved the college and literally thousands of us have benefited from their actions.
    Fortunately USU President Noelle Cockett of USU has also given us an opportunity to reverse the trend and deal with that crisis. She and others plan to visit us in the near future to “talk to all stake holders about the needs and direction of the college.”
    Just as those citizens in 1954 responded so we now have the challenge to turn this crisis into an opportunity. And who are todays stake holders? Certainly every resident in every county in Eastern Utah! We have the most to gain or lose from the  success of our college. And as in 1954  there is not room for apathy, detachment, defeatism, indifference or inaction.
    One of the  proposals to be made will be to realign the  college with the original agreement of affiliating it with USU and to maintain and strengthen that affiliation while restoring autonomy and identity with balance and respect.  That  proposal is a win-win that enhances both USU and USU EASTERN in reversing the trend  and promoting  growth in enrollment and services.
    As residents you need to let your voice be heard by calling, writing, and or emailing college and university administrators and  local elected officials; and by encouraging awareness and support by your family, friends, neighbors, and organization; and by attending relevant meetings.
    Now is the time…you are the person, and collectively we have the influence and power to ensure our college, USU Eastern, with restored identity and autonomy not only survives but thrives!
—Jim Piacitelli