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Show NEW AIRLINE JOLLEY CROWNED SERVICE OPENS. SNQW QUEEN. Students can take advantage of lower rates on local flights with the opening of Air Nevada germinal in Cedar City. SEE Winter royalty selected in SUSCs Snow Queen Pageant reigned over a bevy of activities on campus last week. SEE PAGE 8. PAGE 3. e THE STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS OF SOUTHERN UTAH STATE COLLEGE CEDAR CITY, UTAH SUSC wins 12 percent budget hike for 8485 reached of Primary goal by pay raises for faculty , staff with appropriation of 13.4 percent average in increases Tamara Rumbaugh team which evaluated the college last fall. Southern Utah State College administrators were feeling fortunate to come away with a 12 percent budget increase for fiscal year 1984 from Utahs Legislature Saturday night and, according to President Gerald R. Sherratt, the primary goal of equity salary was largely satisfied. We fared quite well with the legislature in our quest for higher salaries, said Sherratt, and that was our number one objective. The SUSC budget, which will top the $10 million mark, will provide average pay hikes of 13.4 percent for faculty and staff members. While SUSC has come out with increases in some major areas of need, the amount appropriated is not enough for the improvements and needs sought by the college to appease accreditators. Computer shortcomings and inadequate library facilities were among areas pinpointed by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges Assistant to the President Michael D. Richards, who spent much of the month of January at the Legislature, says SUSC faculty and staff members will benefit from an average 13.4 percent salary hike beginning in July. The extra money should go a long way to halt the brain drain which has siphoned off college employees. Assistant to the President Michael D. Richards noted that the increase in funding will go a long way to alleviate some concerns expressed by evaluators, but that some critical needs of the institution remain unadressed by the lawmakers. Richards expressed excitement over the work of the legislature and was particularly pleased with how well SUSC fared in salary needs. He explained that such efforts are needed to turn around the erosion that is being experienced throughout the system of higher education as faculty members are being forced to other job markets because of the low salaries here. The major thing we have fought for all year, said Richards, "is for improved salary equity for our faculty and staff. Given the pressing concerns of the legislature for flooding and the economic recovery of this state, we feel we fared so-call- (continued on page 2) Maestro Abravanel: bringing music to people by Cristal Owens Maurice Abravanel, former conductor of the Utah Symphony, entertained SUSC students with his quick wit and humor at Thursdays Convocation. Convocation Coordinator, Lana Johnson, introduced Abravanel as no ordinary man. He has probably had more impact on Utah and the Intermountain West in bringing culture and the Arts to the people than any other single person. In a brief introduction, Abravanel praised Cedar City for being sensitive to the Arts and making the Utah Shakespearean Festival known all over the world, after which he opened the time for questions. Throughout the presentation Abravanel praised the members of the Utah Symphony by saying, Great sacrifices were made by the musicians. What they didnt have in technique they made up for in devotion. They had potential and they were dedicated. We worked and worked and worked and in little time we could play on the air and be praised in a New York paper. Many of the musicians were music teachers at school so rehearsals had to be held at night. As for the future of the Utah Symphony, Abravanel says, They have a very, very great future. They have something unique, a unique spirit. In Utah we dont have all the wonderful things like gambling and booze so therefore we need the Arts. Since his retirement Abravanel has served on various national boards and lobbying organizations for the Arts. He has successfully fought for appropriations and has testified in court for these appropriations four times. Abravanel has lobbied for funds from the Utah State Legislature and says They are fine, honest and dedicated people, but they are prisoners of paranoia. Everything the government does is wrong and everything the private sector does is right. They want to keep taxes low and there is a waste in taxes but far more waste in the private sector. I am happy and proud to pay taxes, says Abravanel, it is a privilege and a honor. That Utahns are in full support of the Arts is baloney, says Abravanel, who indicated that three generations ago they were, but not now. That is why, he says, he took the Symphony to the schools. Those children might lose one hour of math, science or English and I want them to remember that hour. I had to fight for every check for a bus or for hotels but it was worth it. Abravanel did not always believe he was destined to make his mark at the podium. I chose music, he said, because I had a very strong feeling for d he music. After two years of decided he would be the worlds worst doctor. Being a not very good musician would be far less dangerous to the world than being a bad doctor, joked pre-me- Abravanel. I wanted to see if I could build an orchestra myself and Salt Lake was looking for a conductor, he says, so he came west in 1947 to do just that. Hes stayed on since his retirement in 1979. I love this community and so when I had to retire there was no question that I would stay in Utah. Abravanel added, For me happiness is being useful and being needed. |