Saving State U

How different would life be if Rutgers and other state universities were to collapse, turning higher education into a completely privatized system? For some, it might seem like a far-off possibility, but with the current nationwide budget cuts in education, it's imperative for all of us at Rutgers to stay informed. Thankfully, Nancy Folbre's Saving State U (February 2010) reminds us all of the importance of protecting our privilege to attend public universities.
In her latest book, Folbre, a professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts, dissects the costs and rewards of the public higher education system. She starts off with an introduction about the public education system today in relation to the economy, throwing in specific examples about UMass. Following that, she gives a compelling history of public education, which serves as a good background for understanding how the current system came to be. She includes many basic economics concepts throughout, written in a way that is easy for any reader to understand.

Folbre's writing, in both style and context, doesn't pull any punches, which is really refreshing, especially in a debate such as this. Using hard data about tuitions and other incurred costs, she stresses the need for government funding in state universities. Her accessible style and clear-cut ideas help to take a complex issue that affects thousands across the nation and break it down into logical, effective arguments.

Folbre is the author and co-author of several works including The Invisible Heart, The War on the Poor and The Ultimate Field Guide to the U.S. Economy and has earned accolades for her work as an economist, including the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship. Her ability to extend the principles of economics into various social issues gives readers a greater comprehension of such topics and lends credibility to her recommendations for change.
Saving State U serves well as a simple, 101-style guide to the issue of keeping our public universities afloat in today's economy. Folbre provides ideas toward the strategies "that will be required to increase affordability and access — and to make state universities preeminent institutions that are once again a cornerstone of our democracy." And as responsible citizens, what could be more important than knowing the keys to our freedom?