The Cardboard Boat Regatta has been a staple of the university for 34 years. SIUC President Glenn Poshard called it one of the “great events for the campus,” and a “signature spring event.”

But, the university does not financially support it.

Instead, one of the largest and most fun events on campus leans on donations and outside sponsorships to keep it afloat.

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And that is a problem.

People didn’t start paddling cardboard boats across open water until SIUC professor Richard Archer came up with the idea as a final project for his design class. The idea exploded across the country – and the world – and brought SIUC national attention from MTV and ESPN. Now numerous colleges host a cardboard boat regatta with regulations that mirror Archer’s original plan.

Larry Briggs, one of the event’s coordinators, said he has sat on several SIUC image task forces to promote the regatta as something the university should put money behind, but has been unsuccessful in recent years.

Interim Chancellor John Dunn recognized the event as an important one, but did not recall a conversation about financial support from the university.

The university has image problems. The Chronicle of Higher Education recently poked fun at the now-infamous photo of a group of students bored in a math class, the university’s marketing department needs a lot of work and it’s getting harder and harder to get students to sign up for classes way down here in Carbondale.

So, we encourage the university to send a little money to the regatta and put their seal on it – task force optional. A family event that promotes safety and fun in an alcohol-free environment is exactly what SIUC should endorse.

We also encourage Poshard and Dunn to build a boat and sail it across Campus Lake on April 28. Participation at an event that brings hundreds – if not thousands – of spectators would show their dedication to students and faculty – even if they don’t beat the Daily Egyptian’s boat.

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*This article corrects a previous version.