Editorial

This past week the Town of Plymouth held elections for Town Selectmen, and while some of those pursuing the office maintain positions of indifference or support for Plymouth State University, it seems as though the victors see our school community as the thorn in this town’s side. New town decision makers, Tim Naro and Quentin Blaine, stepped into the seats previously held by strong University supporter John Tucker and the slightly less supporting, John Kelly, leaving the school faced with two community leaders who unjustifiably abhor it. Is it ethical for political candidates to launch a negative platform against something that clearly benefits the area in which it resides? Who can honestly deny that this school brings more money into this town than it sends out? Local business thrives on our consumerism. Landlords rake in over four million dollars every year because of student rentals. And the community service put forth by PSU students is too great to mention. It obviously costs the town money to respond to student emergencies with fire, police and ambulance services, but the university does not turn away from those fiscal responsibilities. For several years we have been paying the town upwards of $200,000 for those services, and now, even with the failure of House Bill 610, we have agreed to increase those payments once again. Along with that, we have our own police force, students are individually charged for ambulance services, and we paid for the laddered fire truck needed especially for this campus. What more do they want from us?The selectmen have voiced concern over the University’s power of influence. The members of this University represent over half of the town’s population, so naturally we should have some say in decision making. The path to Russell Street, town ordinances and the installment of independent business and franchises affect the student population just as much as the town population. But the selectmen choose not to recognize that. There are concerns regarding over enrollment and the creation of limited housing for town residents coming from Quentin Blaine who claims the school should free up some housing for other people. What Mr. Blaine fails to acknowledge is that the college is less at fault in this matter than the very people he now represents. His struggle is not with us. His struggle is with the landlords who choose to rent almost unlimited housing to students. This school is not a tool with which to gain political superiority, as if we are a chess piece shuffled about in some elaborate strategy. Either the elected leaders of this community recognize and appreciate the value and relationships derived from Plymouth State University or they choose to drive a wedge farther between the town and campus. We have done nothing but try to strengthen that bond. The choice is theirs.