Promises to fight for MSU-N

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Although I was not contacted by the Havre Daily News regarding its article about the possibility of closing Montana State University- Northern, I was pleased with Sen.

Jonathan Windy Boy's strong support for the college, and I am equally fervent in my support for MSUNorthern.

In fact, last session, I co-sponsored a bill to support university system building projects, including renovating MSU-Northern's automotive tech center.

The college is essential to our area, and to this entire region of the state. It is nationally recognized for its leading-edge biofuels work.

Major employers from around the nation, such as Caterpillar and Ford, actively recruit Northern students.

Our students in a range of fieldsfrom education to nursing are also highly sought after.

I attended the Board of Regents breakfast meeting at MSU-N recently and was pleased with their strong and sincere support for Northern.

MSU President Waded Cruzado is impressed with Northern's quality and unique accomplishments.

My family connections with Northern go back to the 1920s, when my great-aunt, Florence Hanson, graduated with her teaching degree.

My sisters both attended Northern.

In between cheerleading and focusing on her education in business and agriculture, my sister Amy met her husband, Joe, a diesel student at MSU-Northern. I have friends and family members too numerous to mention who are Northern alumni.

Yes, we face a challenging 2011 session, which will require tough budget cuts. I am ready for that.

But rest assured, along with Sen.

Windy Boy, I will fight tooth and nail for MSU-Northern and will not stand for even the suggestion of closing this excellent college that is so crucial to our region and our state.

While it's true that, unfortunately, closing Northern was one suggestion on a very long list of possible budget cut options, with the strong support from the local community, the Roard of Regents, state and national business leaders, and bipartisan support from area legislators from both sides of the aisle, I'm confident it's a suggestion that will be quickly dismissed.

Rep. Wendy Warburton Havre Montana House District 34