re: Interesting NY Times article on University of Alabama and USCe

Somewhat ridiculous IMO for Auburn and Alabama to have more out of state students. Alabama in particular with 35k plus is absurd. I understand the goal but it is not practical in the state or region for Alabama of all schools (noted more for graduate programs than undergrad) to make this a priority. This does not help the state at all as what it does is pit the big in state schools (who all offer different areas of excellence) to conform to a broad variety of disciplines to compete for the undergrads. Example, Auburn has a great engineering school. In no way does our state need to be funneling money to other schools to create engineering programs because AU has a nationally ranked school but that is what they did with U of A. How does that help our state? Why would you want competing schools. That would be like AU requesting money to start a law school. Why? This is no different with the rapid growth of Alabama'state student population. It is unnecessary competition in a state that a).has no need for it b).will be left in the cold once grads leave to bigger metro areas. Not just bashing Bama either, AU did the same thing in the 90s and will most likely do it again.