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Show Tuesday, 22 July 1986 Vol. 46 No. 64 Regents opt for taxtuition increase to fund education Noting that Utah's nine public colleges and universities are at a critical crossroads, the Utah State Board of Regents has undertaken several efforts to meet the challenges ahead. "I am convinced we are either going to stay in business and be competitive or we are going to deteriorate into being a very mediocre educational system. If we allow that to happen and the state of Utah allows that to happen, it will strike a devastating blow to the economy of this state," said.Wm. Rolfe Kerr, Utah commissioner of higher education, at a recent Board of Regents meetings "I'm not suggesting we're bankrupt. Far from it," Kerr said. "But we're in a period of, if not reorganization, certainly recognizing the fact the future is not going to be business as usual," Kerr said. The Board of Regents agreed with Commissioner Kerr's assessment and agreed to combat mediocrity by reallocating internal resources and seeking to increase revenue through tax and tuition increases as well as private fund raising, according to Vicki Varela of the State Board of Regents office. "First of all, we do have to look internally. There are going to have to be some very painful reallocations of resources. If there was any fat in higher education, it has long since been cut out, but we now must go through a painful process of looking at priorities. There may be some programs and services of lower priority than others that will have to be cut," Kerr said. The Regents determined that reallocating internal resources is not enough. The system of higher education must have more revenues to provide salary increases for key faculty members, purchase desperately needed equipment and library books and enhance the most productive and vital programs, according to Varela. "We recognize the state faces very serious revenue questions," said Regent chairman Sue Marie Young. "But at the same time we believe the citizens of this state want high quality educational opportunities and will do what is necessary to provide those if they are convinced that we in higher education are doing all we can to use tax dollars efficiently and to concentrate resources on the programs that matter most," Kerr said. Kerr is convinced Utahns will not allow the system of higher education to deteriorate, Varela said. "I am convinced that Utah citizens will not accept a mediocre system of higher education. They will not stand for it. I'm also convinced the economy of the state of Utah cannot stand for a mediocre educational system. We know that economic development in this state is absolutely tied to what we can do in higher education through our research activities at our universities and through our training programs at all our institutions," said Kerr. The commissioner's remarks and Regent action were prompted in part by several budget blows, including two budget cuts this year, small or nonexistent budget increases for the budget year beginning July 1 and tight budget projections for next fiscal year, all at a time when colleges and universities face enrollment increases, according to Varela. "We're at a crossroads. The very best thinking, the most statesmanlike approaches, from all segments of our society, must ensure," Kerr said. "We have a leadership role to perform through internal reallocation, but also a very assertive building of a statewide partnership that will create an awareness I don't think is out there at this point an awareness of the critical nature of the crossroads where we stand." . . r : j ! n . . . v- , ; j i : 11 . L iV I t , ' ir . 4 I; ' if z.Z' i : ifcii,;,, ,,aiifca ; T fsmmi rr-r ORIENTATION booths for WSC freshmen sororities. The seminars have been held during were provided by various campus Ihe past few weeks at Weber. (Signpost photo: organizations, including the fraternities and Susan Fishburn) Weber State artist 'pioneers' Ogden art design Tanja Schaffer Arts and Entertainment Editor When downtown Ogden Association Manager, Linda Etzel, first" set out to recruit an artist for her idea, she had no intention of ever hiring an artinstructor. - i ORIGINAL banner designs grace Ogden's Washington Blvd. (Signpost photo: Jeff Bybee) After traveling to many places and seeing countless city banners, she decided that Ogden needed a little brightening up. Etzel said she thought it would be nice for Ogden to display banners of its own. Her visions were specific. She strongly suggested that the banners be festive, colorful and historical but she insisted that they be full of Ogden's character. "To touch on the flavor of Ogden," is how she put it. Since Etzel had hoped for an artist from the Ogden area, she went about scouting different local companies and, advertising firms. She also passed on her visions to seven art students who were attending class at Weber State College. As the project deadline approached, Etzel noticed that no one was designing anything really authentic which represented Ogden. The problem with the entries was that they were "too seasonal." Most of them depicted a certain season such as flowers which symbolize spring, or snowflakes which illustrate winter. None of them represented Ogden alone. "Rodeos and western figures are appropriate with Ogden's history and do well around here," said Weber State College art instructor, Dale Bryner. Etzel asked Bryner if he wouldn't mind giving the project a try. "I was very reluctant," said Bryner, "it put me on the spot as if I were competing with my own students, when I'd hoped in reality that they would get it." In spite of his sincere aversion, he accepted Etzel's offer and went to work. Upon completion, it turned out that Bryner's designs were favored not only by Etzel, but by the large voting committee as well. His creations were selected for the banners to be hung around town. "We hoped we could avoid something generic looking that could be seen anywhere in the nation," Bryner said. "We wanted to isolate it as being Ogden or from the western U.S." To have the banners manufactured, Etzel selected the local Wright's Signs and Screen Printers of Ogden. From the dawn of her idea, she had intended to have the decorations made out of fabric particularly from canvas, since it's durable. Although canvas would, indeed, hold strong the printers informed her, the ink that would be put on the banners would fade quickly. Instead, they recommended vinyl and it ended up being the final choice. Right now, Bryner is busy working on the banners for the other three seasons. He has already sketched out the figures . he will use. For fall, he has drawn a pioneer woman carrying a pumpkin in her outward-extended arms. For winter, he has a bow-legged skier, and for spring a pioneer man hanging on to a train. As people drive slowly along Washington Boulevard, they will have the opportunity to view Ogden's own story in the seasonal banners on display. ASWSC seeks volunteers Heather Forsgren Ass 't News Editor The Associated Students of Weber State College are trying to fill at least 50 percent of their positions by the beginning of Fall Quarter according to Jonathan Wright, ASWSC president. With the exception of maybe one or two chair positions, all of them have been filled and are now in the process of completing their committees. This is primarily being done by recruitment. A basic tool in recruitment is a survey being given to incoming freshmen during their orientation. The survey asks 30 general questions ranging from college life interests to academic interests. However, the survey gives no reference to ASWSC, according to Wright. It is mentioned to the students that ASWSC will be using the survey for recruitment. The basic goal for the summer, said Wright, is "summer planning," and this has included filling the committees to the goal or above, planning the first four open hours and planning their leadership conference. The main purpose for the summer planning is to lessen the fall quarter burden, according to Wrieht. |