Is this relevant?

"You are the worst Campus Scout in four years. Stop with the hippie propaganda and start reporting on something relevant to campus life."

That was student Bill Reil. Scout's editor called Reil back.

Reil had some more advice for Scout: Try "talking about different, random things instead of whining about the same thing. Even if (Scout) just talked about student organizations or campus jobs — something about those."

Scout assumes Reil means that Scout whines about politics.

When asked, Reil responded: "Yeah, probably."

Perhaps readers should know a little bit more about Reil.

William "Bill" David Reil, a 21-year-old senior majoring in accounting, happens to be from Gurnee, Ill.; he attended Warren Township High School.

Reil, who wanted Scout to write about student organizations or campus jobs, is president of Illinois Men's Club Volleyball and works at the Illini Union Bookstore.

This is the Reil who said Scout wasn't writing about topics relevant to students.

So far this year, Scout has been "whining" about the University administrators, the Board of Trustees and Gov. Rod Blagojevich to name a few topics.

But Scout would like to explain why Scout's political topics might just be important.

Of course, Scout needs a human face. So Scout will use Reil, the everyman.

University administrators: They are the ones who are responsible for the tough budget cuts made in these tough economic times.

If Reil has trouble getting into classes, he might consider questioning administrators. They made the call when 338 courses fell under the budget ax.

If Reil has to sit on the floor in a classroom, he should again look to the administration. Class sizes are up 4.4 percent, due largely to increased enrollment and cut courses.

If Reil's volleyball team can't get practice or playing time, he might ask the administrators why. Building operation and maintenance funds have been cut across the campus; Kenney Gym or Huff Hall might be affected.

If Reil gets laid off, he should probably ponder the cuts from the administration again. The Illini Union Bookstore is owned by the University, and many student jobs across the three campuses have been slashed.

And on to the Board

of Trustees:

They have power beyond even the University administrators.

If Reil wonders why there isn't enough money to maintain the quality of his education, he should ask the board why it passed a 5 percent-tuition increase, when there was evidence that students would have accepted a higher increase to save the quality of the University.

If Reil wants to continue using the Chief logo legally on the T-shirts made for his volleyball team, he might like to know the board is considering doing away with the embattled (cough, racist, cough) mascot.

But don't stop there

Gov. Rod Blagojevich: Blago is largely the reason that the University administrators have had to make such tough budget cuts. Funding for the University system as a whole was slashed this year by around $58 million ($27.9 million from the Urbana-Champaign campus alone).

If Reil has any concerns about the price of his dwindling education, the governor's cuts are part of the reason that tuition keeps going up.

If Reil has heard anything about Blago's $400 million shot-in-the-arm to education, Reil should probably know he won't see a dime because that money will go to K-12 schools, including Warren Township High, where Reil no longer attends.

It's important — do something

Scout knows all of the people above work hard. And when there's tough decisions to be made, they are the ones who make them, Scout hopes, as intelligently as possible.

But if any of this seems relevant or disconcerting, Reil (or anyone else listening) could head to a computer or pick up the phone.

Here's a list of public servants, paid well through tax dollars, who should be able to answer questions:

Provost Richard Herman, the chief budget officer, can be reached at rhh@uiuc.edu or 333-6677.

Chancellor Nancy Cantor might listen to concerns sent to ncantor@uiuc.edu or 333-6290.

President James Stukel should be available at jstukel@uillinois.edu or 333-3070.

Secretary to the Board of Trustees Michele Thompson can be contacted at mthompsn@uillinois.edu or 333-1920.

Blagojevich can take messages through his public affairs office at 312- 814-3158 or 782-7355.

Tell them all Scout said hello.

Campus Scout is a regular news commentary appearing on Wednesdays. Campus Scout can be reached at scoutingUI@hotmail.com.