Editorial:Our president is better than ASU's

Dr. Jan Gehler has been our president for a little less than a year. Michael Crow has been ASU president for seven years.

The two are like oil and water. Gehler cares about student success while Crow cares about making ASU a booming business.

Gehler's goal during these critical budget cuts is to leave students unaffected as much as possible. Not everything can be saved but she is making sure not to disrupt student education.

Crow, on the other hand, is making it difficult for students to afford an education through tuition raises and additional fees.

While the MCCCD Board voted against an increase in tuition for the fall, Crow proposed another tuition increase - this time 30 percent. It is becoming harder for students to receive an education at ASU due to the outrageous tuition and fees.

The budget is in a crisis. Gehler knows that money needs to be cut and she is making sure that the dollars are allocated in areas that will benefit students. She has created a leadership team that consists of individuals from all employee groups and academic divisions. She also started the Planning and Budgeting Advisory Council as well as a new strategic planning effort.

Since Crow's appointment, ASU has increased its enrollment by 12 percent yet reduced the number of instructors. With more than 400 students in lecture halls, everyone is packed into classrooms.

Gehler runs an educational institution while Crow runs a business.

We understand that college presidents have many concerns and responsibilities. Often presidents lose sight of student success and needs. We believe Crow has done that while Gehler stays focused on the students' well-being and experience.

Looking at the two makes us proud to be an Artichoke.

These are times of crisis economically and no one understands that more than many of our students working at minimum wage.

A president who realizes that and responds to holding the line on costs to students while still providing quality education is the type of college president we all need today. We have that in Dr. Jan Gehler.