UM Baltimore will lose out if it merges with College Park

Some historical background can illuminate your editorial about the proposed merger of the College Park and Baltimore campuses of the University of Maryland ("Higher education politics," Oct. 23).

In the 1960s, the College Park campus planned a new school of social work to be located in College Park. Instead, it was placed in Baltimore at the insistence of the chairman of the board of regents.

A few years later the College Park campus planned a new architecture school there. Maryland architects wanted it in Baltimore, but It was located in College Park anyway.

The result of this merger will be that the College Park campus will gain jobs and programs at the expense of the Baltimore campus.

W. Rothstein