For a university president who seems to love his students so much, it's perplexing that President M. Peter McPherson is in such a rush to see us all leave.

In Thursday's State of the University address, McPherson discussed the administration's ambiguously worded goal of reducing the time it takes an MSU student to graduate. McPherson said the average duration is 4.5 years, one semester more than the traditional length.

Earlier this month, the executive director of the President's Council of the State Universities of Michigan said most Michigan undergraduates are rallying to finish in upward of five years.

Which is why students are forced to ask the university, "Who cares how long I take? You're increasing tuition nearly every year, and you need money. A longer undergrad career here means more tuition for you."

Admittedly, students are at an advantage in finishing their bachelor's degrees in four years. It's less money spent on room and board and a quicker splash into the career world to generate a nest egg. But the calculation still remains fuzzy on stressing student turnover.

Perhaps the answer can be found in the classroom - History of McPherson's State of the University Speeches 314. McPherson's State of the University speeches are traditionally recaps, reviews and charts of progress from last year's ideas. Factor into the equation that MSU is at the mercy of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget proposal and it makes sense that the hard-line seemed downright palatable.

The "belt tightening" that McPherson has promised is promoting little fear in light of the circumstances - major cuts and a budget shortfall - mostly due to the administration's admirable work to soften the blow. But seeing a $20 million budget reduction for 2004-05 on the horizon should be scary. Students and administrators should be wary of state finance and the connection it has this year with higher education.

In the State of the State address, Granholm became the belle of the ball by looking Michiganians in the eye and telling them to buckle up. A $1.3 billion budget shortfall is an enormous burden and will be felt by any student as long as he or she remains in a public university. But to be sure, McPherson and the administration have done a great job of boarding the windows before the storm.

Is promoting a rapid-fire college education a way to keep the university afloat or is it a method of using turnover to increase academic standards? New blood means new standards to hold them to, after all. Out with the old, in with the new direction and reputation of MSU.

In a span of 50 years, the parcel of land we call home has gone from Aggie to Spartan. We've gone from a cow and teacher college to the upper echelon of research institutions. Changing the face of MSU doesn't seem the most prudent objective in a time of financial woe.

We're in no hurry to leave, President McPherson. We like it here too much, no matter how much we'll all have to pay for it.