As the date of the presidential debate nears, there is a buzz of pure excitement on campus. But it is also easy to see all of the improvements and new technology popping up everywhere at the University of Mississippi. From renovations to the campus’ music building, 24-hour security, a media tent, and 230 new flat screens around the campus, I question whether the improvements are reasonable. When the debate was first proposed, the university decided on a budget of five million dollars with the promise of a better technology infrastructure. While the University has managed to stay within this proposed budget, I believe the money going towards things such as landscaping and flat screen televisions would be better used directly on its students.

The first problem I have with the changes at the University deals with the renovations to the music building. The university has turned student classrooms into media and campaign offices. This is the third time students have been given the boot because of debate accommodations. First, students found out that only 50 student tickets are promised so many university students will miss out on a wonderful educational opportunity. Second, parking on campus has become a huge problem. Many key student parking lots have been closed off so that the Ford Center will be secure on September 26 when McCain and Obama arrive. And while I am excited about the new scoreboard at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium, was a six million dollar renewal needed? Imagine my surprise when I walked on campus two weeks ago to find five workers having to repaint the rails along the bridge leading into the University Out of the five million dollars spent, only 1.5 million of it will directly impact that students.

While I am a huge advocate of the debate being at the university, I do believe additions such as the 230-plus flats screen are frivolous at a university that doesn’t provide much aid for its students financially. Out of this year’s freshmen class, only 911 out of 2527 students received financial aid. The average Ole Miss student graduates with close to 20,000 dollars worth of student loans. If a University that is already known for being a beautiful campus could raise 5 million dollars to plant shrubs and hang red, white, and blue banners across a building, couldn’t they also do a better job at helping student find aid to attend school or decrease the cost of books? After the debate is over, I believe the University should turn its attention to serving more of its students and think about how the new resources could be helpful to faculty, staff, and the educational process at a great American public university.