How can Harper cancel program?

To the editor: I have studied at Harper College since January 2004;. I have completed the majority of the classes for a degree in park and golf management, taking 15 classes in the horticulture department over 3½ years.

I deeply regret Harper is not interested in keeping this program alive. I work in the landscape industry; there is a great shortage of educated people to fill the jobs.

My classes have offered so much more that just an education. Instructors in the Horticulture Department are top-notch and they work in the field.

To educate people about the correct use of the land is the best way to make progress -- understand your soil, your water, your plants and how to make trees grow correctly -- why would you not support this industry? Two articles in the Daily Herald on Oct. 22 stress the importance of education in the agriculture industry and mention "an industry awash in jobs" -- not the picture painted at the Oct. 23 board meeting.

This is a $4.7 billion industry; can you afford to overlook the potential for educating this job market?

Everything I learned I use on a daily basis -- estimating a property for an installation, evaluation of the health of trees and plant material or working with a piece of machinery. I need it all.

The cavalier mention in the letter I received in late August that says that you will help me complete my class requirements at a nearby college -- where would that be? Joliet Junior College is 57 miles from my house, College of Lake County and DuPage are over 35 and Oakton does not offer any of these classes.

The opportunity to work with students in a cooperative effort for the sustainability project proposed by Legat Architects seems a great way to show that your school can really show Green behavior.

We are already studying these techniques in landscape design classes; in fact, I had to do my final project using a rain garden in a suburban house landscape. It is ironic you would be interested in this approach to landscape yet deny the opportunity to your student base.

Jennifer Coladarci

Evanston