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      As a Sociology and Communications major, I see society as an arena of
conflict. Someone is always struggling to achieve certain needs and goals in
order to survive. When I see my friend in Eastern Kentucky who attends
Ashland Community College because of its affordability and direct access not
only to UK, but to the regional universities, I am pleased that he is pursuing his
right to an education. Yet, when I heard the student's parent on the phone last
week telling me that she was afraid that her son's tuition would raise if current
reform efforts were to take place, I was disappointed that she had to have that
fear in the midst of her intellect.

      As I look at the current proposal, I must admit a lot of the principles of
what I stand for as a student, a young sociologist, and as the student
representative are evident. Decentralization is always something I've stood for,
equaling out control and access. I believe such a process would bring about a
social equilibrium. However, the principles I can easily agree with, but the
notions and intention behind them in the way they are presented are not the
answer to the way higher education should be reformed in Kentucky. I read the
proposal and I believe I saw the word "student" seven times out of a fourteen
page document. As the student representative I want to know why this is so? I
also want to know what this proposal will do for the students and how it will
do it? I think that these questions are valid because neither in the proposed
Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) nor in the Strategic Committee on
Postsecondary Education (SCOPE) proposals is there reference to or any
language leading to that there will be a student serving on these established
entities. I can't find it. Correct me if I misread. This disturbs me, why?
Because it allows me to believe that the students were not in focus here, but
rather it was the business and industrial super giants of our state that will have
stake and claim in the community colleges if they are separated from UK.
These aren't just my concerns. These are the concerns of the students across the
state.

      If there was a balance in this proposal between the student needs, the
insights of faculty and staff, and how the universities and community colleges
should operate in relation to economic factors, I would be more than happy to
support this, but it doesn't.

      If you look at the students who attend the community colleges in terms
of socio-economic characteristics, you will notice that many of these students
are attending these schools because they either want a two-year education that
will prepare them for a regional university or UK, want an associate degree
before they enter the work force, or are basically attending them so they can
balance school, family and work in an affordable setting. UK's strong ties with
the community colleges keep the community colleges full of educational
richness, diversity, economic affordability, and a preparation for not just UK but
regional universities as well. The whole state benefits. If the community