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Show f B E Y O N D?'' . T H E ""-- "s. ' " " : "'x Volume 3 Issue 1 9 Tr . T HE SIGNPOST c ) J WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY W77e Wednesday's rally on the Capitol steps was poorly attended by Weber State University students, nearly 500 students, staff and faculty from Utah's colleges and universities let lawmakers know of their support for higher education funding. However, the message was not reflected in the mere $12 million allocation. Students By Angie Welling editor in chief-The Signpost By Lisa Roskelley features editor -The Signpost Chants of "show us the money," "pay our professors" and "fund higher ed" resonated from the steps of the Capitol Wednesday afternoon.The energetic,sign-waving crowd traveled from the nine public colleges and universities across the state to demand a salary increase for their professors.The students came armed with the message that fair pay for their professors equals quality education for the students. "We believe that equitably funding faculty and staff at our schools is of utmost importance for maintaining the quality education that exists in our state," said Nate Anderson, Utah State Uni- versity student body president.Each student body president stressed the fact that student involvement in the rally was vital. It is necessary' for the Legislature to see that students are serious about the salary increase, they said. "I think it's important that students come and show their support for the faculty to receive the more money, more faculty equity." said Dee Hansen. Weber State University u - ; r- . ,vr;"o state c"- 'ua'S' c:'-v .... . TI1 -' "ttttt.""" """".""T.'"n":"'i. '" " " " .". 'v; ; ; j l-W j vtund me demonstrate support HIGHER EDUCATION! TISSUES - Mill II I II Ml niifiifgf! LEGISLATURE 2 0 0 0 Student Association president, "because the problem we're having is that the faculty keep leaving our state to receive better jobs and get more money elsewhere."According to a fact sheet distributed at the rally, the average faculty member at an institution of higher education makes 19.6 percent less than faculty members outside of Utah. Students also wanted legislators to know that they support a faculty and staff salary increase, but not a tuition increase. "Usually if they do give us an increase they ask for that in our tuition," said WSU student Jeremy Kjar. "So today we're here asking for a salary increase for our staff and teachers in higher education of 4.5 percent and we don't want HlUfJ rr an increase in our tuition. That's why I'm here today, to support that." Students honed in on Gov. Leavitt's plan to ask for an extention of the I-1 5 bond from seven years to 10 years and use the money for education. Signs reading "Stop paving over education" were distributed to the crowd. "It is important to build highways," Anderson said. "But it is also important to build students." Speakers referred to this as a painless way to fund higher education, rather than tuition hikes or losing faculty and staff. The rally, which was planned by the Utah Council of Student Body Presidents, coincided with the Executive Appropriations Committee meeting, where higher education allocations were being announced.Students hope their presence at the Capitol helped influence some of the decisions made in the meeting. "I think it's starting to get through to the Legislature, from what we've heard and rumors coming out of the building that it's starting to get to them," said Kristian Olsen. Southern Utah University student body president. "I think they're sympathetic to our concerns." see Support page 2 -R Higher ed 'sorely disappointed' By Lisa Roskelley features editor-The Signpost When the Executive Appropriations Committee announced the allocations for subcommittees Wednesday, higher education's $12 million did not even cover the bill for their No. 1 priority.. The prioritized list released by the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee Monday itemized over $13 million for salary equity alone, with a total over $43 million for the entire list of priorities. While these numbers were known to be highly optimistic, the $12 million did not even graze the minimum $20 million the commissioners, regents and presidents of the nine higher education institutions in Utah had planned for. "Very disappointing," said Weber State University President Paul Thompson. "I mean, obviously we hoped for, at a minimum. $20 million. So, this is a very serious shortfall, but it is not over." Thompson showed the hopeful . attitude that many involved expressed once they got over the disappointment. But the disappointment was still apparent.Commissioner Cecelia see Disappointed page 2 PAVING 0VER5 EDUCATION t L'TAJI SiTDK.NT ASSOC. 'V. M L-J I ' s f ' - t- Mi yiiM-tm i "-iiiiii irt ii nifal''i' urn in- i-fllt . kM,-' AMHhhMMriUMM Students were encouraged to write to their representatives or senators stating their support for a 4.5 percent salary increase for faculty and staff. 1 'A -s 6 jgfiUt. g-fc - ii T-BTjUiT 'fttitliiii VI H'luM ZJ |