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Show Openings 1988 News Page Six ADMINISTRATION Peterson: lnvesi:mGni By Ken ing to his constituenc- Southwkx y- odd U. students, fac- Chronicle administration reporter ulty and the community. When University of Utah President Chase Peterson talks about his job, he vacillates between the abstract and con- crete, between noble ideals and everyday realities. On the other hand, he savs his iob is nothing more than their potential, faculty members need to consensus building and simple management, with no real power involved. Peterson the stressed importance of both He said students need to understand them, and the community must realize it in the U. has a great deal of "People only support the U. if they understand what it is," said Peterson. It is his responsibility, as president, to nt. its potential, Peterson says his next responsibilty is to take that understand- - .v: jf that provide understanding, he said. It is in his efforts to do the abstract that the concrete comes into play. Peterson spends time daily speaking to various groups in the community. He also makes regular reports to the Utah Board of Regents and the Utah - env-iornme- O self-intere- st adopted or inherited," he added. "Think critically and take issue with the professor, (because) that's a compliment. " facets of his job, saying neither was really more important than the other. "My job is to understand the nature of a free mind and the potential of an educated free mind," Peterson said after a long, thoughtful pause in a recent interview. Because the notion of a free mind is rather abstract and perhaps even a bit ambiguous, Peterson offered a definition. A person usually thinks one of two ways about his or her mind, he said. He explained that one might "believe the mind has the potential, if it's open, to be educated and improve the lot of the individual and the community." The other type of thinking would relegate the mind to something dangerous, something incapable of enriching its This is a mind that is not free, it is one that is "afraid of answers," Peterson said. Once he understands the free mind and 'vr vvf understand the opportunity awaiting "Ideas need to be your own, not . retails U. offffeirs valuable x i , y W ft i . I J -- t . X T Legislature. In addtion, he said he writes 10 to 15 letters and makes 10 to 15 phone calls each day, all an effort to show people that "education is an investment . . . that will " ' 7; J payoff." Peterson boasts quite proudly of another concrete part of his job-- his open-door policy. Every other Wednesday, from 3:30 p.m. until "people stop coming," Peterson opens his office to anyone and everyone who has a problem or complaint, praise or a compliment. He suggests that those interested in 8 to schedmeeting with him call iiwiir 581-308- ule an appointment. What can the average student expect from the president of the U.r seven see "Peterson" on news-pag- e University of Utah President Chase Peterson says his job is to understand the nature 0f the free mind and the potential of the educated free mind. Tax Initiatives will seriously twill-- , Petereon says. By In addition, educational programs, Ken Southwick Chronicle administration reporter Education officials are preparing to battle this fall to defeat three tax initiatives. Its outcome will drastically affect higher education in fight a full-sca- le Utah. If approved, the tax measures will result in a loss of approximately $320 million in state funds, Dale Hatch, director of the Utah Office of Planning and Budget, said. Cuts totalling more than $34 million are expected in higher education alone, departments, schools or even entire leges might have to be reduced or eliminated, theyreported. "They're scared," said Varela, referring to the Regents. That's why their predictions at July's meeting were so pessimistic, she explained. Officials are aware they face an uphill struggle. Recent polls have shown that if a vote was taken today, the initiatives would pass. Peterson has said he is "prepared to live col- teaching loads would result in a mass exodus of faculty. Despite gloomy reports surfacing about the condition of higher education in Utah, Peterson says the U. has never been in better shape, citing figures showing that Utah gets a return on its;' investment in the U. During the 1986-8- 7 school year, the U.I 4-t- o-l However,' the U.'s total; operating budget for the, same period was more than $455 million. The U. was; able to generate more than; $300 million on its own.j Peterson reported. In other words, for each' 20 cents the state spends on the U, it gets a dollar back,, ! Before the 13 300 Peterson has predicted that the $15 million figure could go as high as $20 million, depending h .10 i After the 13 200 H tax cut Tax Cut Possible Tuition Increases Due to Tax Cuts 3 3000 (A C how the state o decides to distribute the revenue loss. - Vicki Varela, a public affairs officer for the Utah Board of Regents, 5 ioo , he said. , Even so, Peterson said: the U. has never been in "a more precarious position"' 2000 than with the threat of the 2 El Before Possible Tuition Increase tax initiatives. 0 After Possible Tuition Increase ao He said the U. faces' some serious problems that 1000 A will only be compounded if the tax measures are passed. At the top of the list are; salary levels for profesPer Year. sors. Recent audits have, shown that a U. professor; less thanj In order to do this, Cook would t or iner earns 22 percent i i peer at comparable ''univei increase what he called an "abysmally nis low" teaching load at the U. Peterson recently reported that 76 perHe said his research has shown that U. cent of state funds the U. receives goes professors teach an average of six hours toward salaries. If the initiatives pass, per week, well below the average at peer Peterson predicted that "everyone will institutions. a : take salary cut. However, Anthony Morgan, U. vice Another problem at the U, is library: president for budget and planning, quesThe average acquisition expeivj tioned Cook's figures, saying they are support. diture per student for one year is $197. at, "simply wrong." peer institutions. At the U., that amount) "I don't know where he (Cook) got his is only $97. figures," Morgan said. U. professors teach seven see "initiatives" on news-pag- e ; ! said recently that the Regents are frightened of the serious implica- Higher Education hp U. of U. j ; tions resulting if the initiatives pass. In their July meeting, the Regents told the state's nine university presidents to make certain Utahns are informed about the initiatives. They also urged the general public to vote "no" on the measures. In addition, the Regents forecasted that 8,000 to 10,000 students would be barred from Utah's institutions if the initiatives succeed. Enrolled students could face a tuition increase of 25 percent to 30 percent. X That would be approximately $450 e student at more a year for a the U. claimed. Morgan predicted that an increase in received approximatelyj funds.! President Chase full-tim- - than at comparable institutions, he How the Tax Cut May Affect the U. and Higher Ed. Utah. on . an average of 7.8 hours, slightly higher $110 million in state resulting in a $15 million budget reduction at the University of U. "This should be a citizens' battle," he said. Cook claims Peterson does not have the right to become politically involved in economic issues. Cook has openly criticized education officials on other occasions as well. Following the Regents' gloomy predictions in July, Cook said he doesn't known "if the Board of Regents really understands the tax initiatives." Cook claims his program can save $28 million in higher education and $15 million at the U. with what the voters decide in November," but he stresses the need for an informed decision. "It is my faith that if they (voters) know the facts, they'll vote against" the tax ini-- . tiatives, Peterson predicted. Peterson has been criticized by proponents of the tax initiatives for being so outspoken on the issues. Merrill Cook, an independent gubernatorial candidate who supports the tax measures, accused Peterson of "using taxpayers' money to promote his personal views si-tie- ; s. : , ; j |
