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Show the Daily LJtah chlron"iclE The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice since 1890 Tuesday, January 21, 2003 VOL. 112 NO. 90 U Keceives Little from Kegents' $4M ALI HASNA1N Chronicle Asst. News Editor Others Hit Harder The U took another financial hit at the Board of Regents meeting on Fri- ALI HASNAIN Chronicle Asst. News Editor day. In a Special Session last year, the Utah State Legislature cut $12 million out of the base budget for higher education, but the Legislature restored $9 million of cuts with "one-timmoney in the current year budget, which leaves a $3 million shortfall. Of the restoration, $5 million was given directly to institutions and $4 million to the Regents, to allocate at their discretion. It is the first time the Regents were given such a responsibility. One option was to allocate the money back just as it had been cut by the state. "Logic would tell you to restore it back to the budget," said Regent Chairman Nolan Karras. That didn't happen. Arguments such as the inability of smaller schools to generate money at the same rate as larger schools, especially in difficult economic times, seemed to outweigh the argument that a school like the U adds more to the state's economy than Snow College, for example. The U took a 6 percent reduction, or Replacements Take Over for Former ASUU Exec Officers As the student body elections approach and candidates prepare for a grueling few weeks of debates and issues, campaign two new officers take over positions in the Executive Cabinet. Adrian Johnson Werrett anjJ from their resigned board director posi tions of the Associated Students of the University of Utah two weeks ago to run for elections. Travis Johnson will replace Werrett as the campus relations director and Lane Pederson will replace Adrian Johnson as the technology direcJake tor. Travis Johnson was the associate director of campus relations before he was appointed to take the head posif Travis Johnson said. '2 t c tuition established a first-tie- r increase of 4.5 percent for all state t 1 v. "I've worked on the United Leadership Conference committee, plus I have all the experience from campus relations." He also believes he was appointed because he is enthusiastic about what he does. "As part of the ULC I had a vision, now I need to load the gun and fire," Travis Johnson said. "We networked see REPLACEMENTS, page 4 public higher education institutions in the state, 5 percent of which will d financial aid. go toward In addition to that increase, each school's administration is responsible for second-tie- r increases, which arc specific to each school. The U will implement a 7 perneed-base- 1 .m I mm Bernie Machen and Snow College President Michael Benson out of the allocation, while Snow received 26 percent, or $39,200. According to Karras, it was a test for $120,900, the Regents. "We're in a situation that we must apply the money in a different way," he said. attend the Board of Regents meeting Salt Lake Community College, Utah State University and Weber State Uni- versity also took reductions while Utah Valley State College, College of Eastern Utah, Dixie State College and Southern Utah University received more money back. in the Union Friday. While the U's hit wasn't huge, some fear the Regents' decision could set a precedent for future allocations. "This is certainly something to watch," said U Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dave Pershing, ahasnainchronicle.utah.edu Studfit Mody Pvesidetits Mully A.gcLvnst Tuiti on Mikes ALI HASNAIN Chronicle Asst. News Editor SADAF BAGHBANI Chronicle News Writer think they me approached because I have lots of experience," It's official. Next year's combined 9.5 percent tuition increase at the U was voted on and passed by the Board of Regents on Friday, along with second-tier tuition increases for all state colleges and universities in Utah. On Nov. 8, 2002, the Regents w e" tion. "I Tuition to Go Up 9.5 Percent at U, Tuition hikes and enrollment problems are not unique to the U. After the Board of Regents meeting on Friday, the Utah Council of Student Body Presidents held a press conference in the Union, focusing on'the impacts of tuition increases and possible budget cuts. Of the nine publicly funded institutions in the state, seven were represented at the press conference, including U Student Body President Bill Edwards. Students feel they are being asked to carry an unfair load on their backs, said Edwards, who is also the president of the Utah Student Association. Even with economic hardships rampant and the state behind in funding for higher education, raising tuition seems like a "simplistic" solution, especially after consecutive significant increases in recent years, Edwards said. "It's not fair to ask students again just after the last increase," said Siddharth Singh, a junior studying business at the U. "The trend is definitely disconcerting," Edwards said. According to Utah Valley State College Student Body President and the association's Vice President, Ryan Vogle, Utahns in general are against tuition increases, even if it means an increase in taxes across the board for state residents. "That's a better option," Singh said. Singh says people with degrees and jobs would have an easier time sharing the burden than simply 4: YY:. t Vt:'':A f i increase. Howevcent second-tie- r fees do not student because er, increase as dramatically, the total increase is 9.5 percent, said U Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dave Pershing at the Jan. 9 Truth in Tuition meeting at the U. For undergraduate students will pay an increase of about $154 in tuition and $5 in fees per full-tim- e, semester, Pershing said. According to sophomore Aaron Stewart, that increase will throw off his budgeting for the upcoming year. "Especially as a I'm already paying a lot of money," Stewart said. While the U's increase is just below the average of about 10 percent, it's nowhere near the jumps that some schools took. Southern Utah University, for example, will implement a second-tie- r increase for resident students of 19 percent, for a total increase of more than 20 percent. For resident SUU students, that means about a $444 increase per year. SUU's tuition is higher than Weber State's for the first time ever. However, the reasons for increases are different between the U and non-reside- SUU. According to U President Bernie Machen, the U's increases are aimed at retaining faculty and maintaining programs, especially after no faculty raises SUU, however, is improvements. "We have a lot of said SUU President i - Ji. last year. looking for work to do," Steven Ben-nio- n. passed last year, which requires students to study in Utah for two years instead of one. Student leaders are planning major lobbying efforts in which they will talk to state representatives and hold student rallies. According to Bcnnion, SUU is looking to enhance education and standards in order to able to advertise a better product, which is still at an affordable price. e SUU students paid about $950 per semester before the hike. But, SUU Student Body President Matt Glazier supports the increase and says SUU students understand the reasoning. U Student Body President Bill Edwards is not as supportive of an increase, but he is happy that about 1 percent of it is going toward financial aid at the U. ahasnainchronicle.utah.edu ahasnainchronicle.utah.edu Full-tim- president of the Utah Student Association and ASUU, fields a at press conference protesting tuition hikes Friday. questions Billy Edwards, relying on students to help make up the difference in budget short- falls. The state might also be able to collect more money for higher education that way, he said. In addition to speaking out against tuition increases, student body presidents voiced their sup port for amendments to House Bill 331, out-of-sta- te THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE IS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT www.DailyUtahChronicle.com |
