Most people know the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility as NBAF, and it's all I've heard about since I stepped on campus last fall. I truly believe that it will be great for our university. Former K-State President Jon Wefald has said countless times that K-State is a major research institution, and I think it's about time our school has a large enough facility to meet the needs of our university. It's too bad that so many others disagree.

The Associated Press reported Monday that Congressional investigators said Department of Homeland Security might have relied on a flawed study to justify its decision to bring NBAF to K-State. According to the Government Accountability Office, it isn't "scientifically defensible" to safely handle dangerous animal diseases in Kansas or any area in the mainland U.S.

I find this utterly bogus. NBAF will be coming to Kansas. Our state has a great deal to offer as one of the agricultural centers of the world. However, it is by no means the center of the universe, which makes it the perfect place for serious research to be conducted. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control are located in Atlanta, one of the most heavily populated areas in the nation, and they deal with things worse than mad cow disease on a daily basis.

You don't hear people openly protesting about the location of the CDC, so people should not be unhappy about the location of NBAF. It makes no sense to me, especially when I've seen our fire and rescue crews in action in Riley County. Those men and women have the training and equipment to handle a plethora of disasters, and I feel confident in their abilities to allow such a facility to be built and still know I'm safe.

This isn't the first time that the idea of NBAF coming to K-State has been threatened. According to an article from the Kansas City Business Journal Monday, officials in Texas have raised various arguments ranging from political favoritism to the threat of tornadoes. However, K-State was selected to host NBAF while a Texan, George W. Bush, was president. Texas is also the No. 1 state for tornadoes per year and the No. 2 state for hurricanes.

At this point, I think it would be too damaging to Kansas for DHS officials to change their mind now. They have already declared Kansas as the site, and they should stand by their decision, especially in these difficult economic times. The Kansas City Business Journal said NBAF is expected to have a $3.5 billion effect on the Kansas economy. The proposed project will create as many as 500 federal jobs and bring in many additional jobs to support the needs of the growing Manhattan community. We cannot afford to let such a giving tree be removed. The consequences could lead to an even greater economic crunch.

I've heard people talking about what NBAF will do to the local school system, and officials have already begun efforts to make roads to Manhattan more accessible. I would like to think that the city hasn't wasted any money on NBAF preparations, only to see NBAF go to the Lone Star State.

It's time for our government to stand by its decisions and help those they already promised to help. Write your Congresspersons and tell them you support NBAF at K-State. Every voice can make a difference.