LTE: Iowa State Alum Weighing in on Rastetter
A letter from CCI member Susie Petra appeared in today's edition of the Ames Tribune. Susie does a fantastic job of getting the word out about Bruce Rastetter's misconduct! Her full letter is below.
I have always been proud to say that Iowa State University is my alma mater. I had inspiring instructors across many departments, and have made lasting friendships with many of them.
But as an alum, I have become deeply disappointed lately about ISU’s collusion with Regent Bruce Rastetter and his plans to displace over 160,000 refugees currently living in Tanzania. Mr. Rastetter proposed building a giant, industrial, corporate “farm” to allegedly help the refugees, who have been farming successfully using methods appropriate to that environment.
Mr. Rastetter proposed renting 800,000 acres for 25 cents per acre. Make no mistake, at prices like that, this arrangement would have meant BIG profits for Rastetter and his company AgriSol.
ISU’s College of Agriculture would have received some money for scholarships, as well. But ISU should be promoting policies which help farmers and consumers, not policies that enrich big corporations and corporate donors and hold no promise of scientific advancement. Mr. Rastetter did not disclose his conflict of interest when he proposed the project. Only AFTER the scandal had become public knowledge did both he and ISU distance themselves from the project.
Because of his egregious abuse of power and position, Mr. Rastetter has caused damage to ISU’s reputation of doing independent, fair-minded research. Mr. Rastetter should resign from the Iowa Board of Regents.
This incident raises a larger issue — increasing corporate money funding research at our public universities. This type of funding inevitably shapes the research carried out, influencing which questions are studied and which answers are taken seriously. The nature of research should be driven by scientists, not corporate donors. Money gives corporations power and influence over public universities, which have historically been our most productive source of independent-minded research.
This Thursday, July 19, two groups — Food & Water Watch and Iowa CCI — will be in Ames to provide more information about this issue. The public is invited to attend at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1015 N. Hyland at 7 p.m.You can also sign a petition asking to have Mr. Rastetter removed from the Iowa Board of Regents:
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