Washington State University

Idaho state government earned notoriety two years ago when it cut its higher education budget by 10 percent. As draconian as that was, however, Idaho’s college and university system has not seen the reductions that Washington’s has. In the Evergreen State, the cuts have been more gradual, but more relentless.

Too many Washingtonians are unaware of the depth of the wounds left by the budget ax. Too bad they weren’t all in attendance at Washington State University’s mid-year commencement ceremony Saturday.

There, onetime WSU student activist and current Regent Bill Marler leveled with graduates about what state government and voters alike have done to the school and its sister institutions. In Marler’s words, they have “more than turned their back on supporting higher education.”

As they have done that, programs have been curtailed, faculty salaries have slipped in comparison with other schools and student tuition has risen to the point that a higher education is, in Marler’s words, for “only the wealthy, only the privileged few.”

“This is not world class, face to face,” Marler said, in mockery of the slogan WSU adopted a few years back.

It sure isn’t. And the reasons for that are as varied as they are inescapable.Continue Reading A rare commencement speaker points to failure

I’ve been reappointed to a second term with the Washington State University Board of Regents, which I currently serve as president. I was first appointed to the WSU Board of Regents in 1998. I served as a member of the Pullman City Council while attending WSU, as the youngest and first student ever elected to

In its story Fewer students of color at WSU, the Spokesman Review reported today that while enrollment is up at Washington State University, the number of African-American students on campus is down.
The African-American student population dropped to close to 13 percent this fall. Although the drop accounts for only 67 fewer students than

U. Washington president declines pay increases, America’s Intelligence Wire reported today.

“In the past few years Rawlins has been at WSU, salaries for presidents in similar institutions outside of Washington state have gone up, said William Marler, WSU Board of Regents president.”

Washington State University President V. Lane Rawlins is paid $254,065 annually and