2008 Woodie Awards
CASH COW
A look at the past and present
Filbert, Don R. J.
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Opinion
As one who attended Humboldt State College (1954-1956), let me offer readers a bit of ancient history. Everything is relative.
In 1956, HSC had a few over 900 students and a faculty of 40, eight of whom were PhDs. A ratio of 22.5 to 1. We had no provost. HSC's accreditation was excellent! Most faculty members made about $6,000 to $9,000 per year. The president (Cornelius Seimens) made about $12,000. Most workers (including HSC staffers) at the time earned between $2,400 and $3,000 per year. $5,000 put you in "fat city." $10,000 put you in the "middle class."
A new Chevy sedan cost $1,500. A two-bedroom house could be had for $14,000. Apartments went for $25 to $35 per month.
Since 1956, wages have increased about ten times. Autos about 15 times. Houses now cost 20 to 30 times. Rents: 15 to 20 times.
Although HSC was growing, no student ever was deprived of a class necessary to graduation. The entire faculty taught. There were no drones. "Corny" Seimens was, however, caught with his hand in the cookie jar in 1961 (I think) for purchasing about $8,000 in personal household furniture on HSC vouchers. Tsk! He got his wrist slapped.
Nelson Hall fed students good real food at cost (plus 5 percent)! No off-campus businesses operated on campus. Nor were big-name acts booked on campus at outrageous prices. The student lounge ("The Coop") was ASB- owned and operated.
The on-campus medical facility was used by about 20 percent of the student body annually. Today we're told 75 percent use it. I don't believe it. Nor were we charged an exhorbinant non-refundable medical fee annually eaither.
In 1956, there was $15,000 in the HSC ASB treasury. In 2000, there was $600,000. It was, of course, grabbed by the jock-strap department for a new field house which will serve about 200 of HSU's 7,000 students: 3.5 percent. Tsk!
Nor was my generation subjected to the forced purchasing of highly overpriced faculty-written text books. Students should refuse to take any class with a textbook priced over $35.00. Academics who do this are not educators: they are slime-ball money-grubbers. Their "textbooks" are often redundant.
In 1956, HSC had a few over 900 students and a faculty of 40, eight of whom were PhDs. A ratio of 22.5 to 1. We had no provost. HSC's accreditation was excellent! Most faculty members made about $6,000 to $9,000 per year. The president (Cornelius Seimens) made about $12,000. Most workers (including HSC staffers) at the time earned between $2,400 and $3,000 per year. $5,000 put you in "fat city." $10,000 put you in the "middle class."
A new Chevy sedan cost $1,500. A two-bedroom house could be had for $14,000. Apartments went for $25 to $35 per month.
Since 1956, wages have increased about ten times. Autos about 15 times. Houses now cost 20 to 30 times. Rents: 15 to 20 times.
Although HSC was growing, no student ever was deprived of a class necessary to graduation. The entire faculty taught. There were no drones. "Corny" Seimens was, however, caught with his hand in the cookie jar in 1961 (I think) for purchasing about $8,000 in personal household furniture on HSC vouchers. Tsk! He got his wrist slapped.
Nelson Hall fed students good real food at cost (plus 5 percent)! No off-campus businesses operated on campus. Nor were big-name acts booked on campus at outrageous prices. The student lounge ("The Coop") was ASB- owned and operated.
The on-campus medical facility was used by about 20 percent of the student body annually. Today we're told 75 percent use it. I don't believe it. Nor were we charged an exhorbinant non-refundable medical fee annually eaither.
In 1956, there was $15,000 in the HSC ASB treasury. In 2000, there was $600,000. It was, of course, grabbed by the jock-strap department for a new field house which will serve about 200 of HSU's 7,000 students: 3.5 percent. Tsk!
Nor was my generation subjected to the forced purchasing of highly overpriced faculty-written text books. Students should refuse to take any class with a textbook priced over $35.00. Academics who do this are not educators: they are slime-ball money-grubbers. Their "textbooks" are often redundant.
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