JERRY RUST, 82
Zone 1 candidate
Hometown: Glide, Ore.
Family: Married … Partner is retired … Adult children aged 55, 54, and 49
Occupation: Retired part-time small farmer
Public sector experience: United States Peace Corps; Lane County Commissioner 1977-97; 2012 unsuccessful run for West Lane County Commissioner; and a ’22 unsuccessful run for Oregon House District 9
Leadership style: “Optimistic”
At your best: “Confident”
At your worst: “Anxious”
I’m running for the LCC board because I believe in the power of education.
Our citizens and students can compete with anyone. We just need to give them the tools. The budget offers a tough challenge, especially as student populations are falling.
The way out is to grow – grow the student body.
Diversify where appropriate and sell what we know best – education and training in the most relevant fields of the emergent economy. Grow our student population by maintaining high levels of instruction and ensuring we have adequate technology. LCC must stay in demand! This means delivering cutting-edge training and education at an affordable cost to students.
Here are some ideas to spur growth:
- Increase outreach to Lane County school principals and counselors
- Marketing
- Consider entering the campus housing business by developing ultra-green housing, including dormitories adjacent to the campus with the smallest possible footprint.
- Embrace internationalism. LCC should be a beacon of international friendship, a safe, welcoming, and inclusive campus.
- Add Asian languages, such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Hindi.
- Actively recruit and serve international students, especially in English language training.
It is clear that our entire society is going through intense change, and part of the fallout is that higher education has come under attack. LCC should follow the lead of Harvard and resist demands to impose federal standards on free speech and academic freedom. The best colleges and universities will produce the best work in a climate free from fear, where the First Amendment is honored and diversity, equity, and inclusive principles are upheld.
Finally, we have thousands and thousands of senior citizens in Lane County with amazing skills. We should find a way to utilize those skills where appropriate. Additionally, seniors also enjoy classwork. It’s never too late to learn.
