In response to the editorial "Left behind" (SN 2/20), The State News editorial board displayed an ungrateful and childish expression toward one of MSU's biggest supporters, state Rep. Gretchen Whitmer.

The editorial claims Whitmer "is supposed to be a champion for higher education appropriations" and then goes on to make a hollow case that she is not. The editorial continues that "it is Whitmer's duty to be the thorn in the side of state government officials who want to slash spending for one of her district's most important institutions".

It is extremely careless and uncalled for for the editorial board to allege Whitmer is not fighting for MSU. During her first term representing MSU, Whitmer led the fight on Senate Bill 371 to repeal the College Tuition Tax Credit, she helped negotiate a 7-percent increase in state funding for MSU and helped save more than $7.4 million in fire grant monies, including money that kept MSU's campus fire station operating. Whitmer actually led the fight in recent weeks to stop a double-digit cut to university funding.

The editorial goes on to claim Whitmer does not solicit opinions from her constituents. This is perhaps the most empty claim the editorial attempts to make. Whitmer has continuously made herself accessible to her constituents through monthly coffees, campus organization meetings, speaking with ASMSU, the East Lansing school board and the list goes on.

Whitmer is making long-term, fiscally responsible decisions. She doesn't want MSU to lose money, and she doesn't want your tuition to go up. But it's going to happen.

It's arrogant and selfish for The State News editorial board to think funding for higher education is priority No. 1 in the state budget. And its claims about Whitmer are inexcusable.

Nate Engle
MSU College Democrats president