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Show THE THUNDERB1RD TUESDAY OCTOBER 21, 1986 PACE 3 Budget cuts create painful employee dismissal Governor orders cuts be 'program specific some longtime teachers cut in lieu of new employees BY DOUG CHRISTENSEN Sitting in a booth at the college snack bar, the department chairman shakes his head "Most of the money in our budget goes into salaries," he's saying "So if they cut the budget, that means cutting employees There really isn't any choice " But, he says, that doesn't mean you have to like doing it The SUSC administration has known for months that budget cuts were coming Utah Gov Norman Bangerter, under pressure from a Republican-controlle- d State Legislature that is dead set against any increase in state taxes, this summer mandated a 6 percent cut from the budgets of all state agencies, including institutions of higher learning, beginning with the 1987-8- 8 fiscal year When the cuts were first ordered, no one knew how they would affect students and the college And, it seems, they still don t know But, according to those who have lost their jobs, as wpII as those assigned the unpleasant task ot eliminating those jobs, the cuts have betn very pamti At tl e same time a proposal bv sUSC President Gerald R Sherratt to raise student tees may result in studr nts fee ng much of the burden of making up for the bud get reduction Some of the college employe who will lose their obs next July have worked tor SUSC for nearly 20 years and are only a few years away from retirement Under the early retirement program, for which most are eligible, they would receive 20 percent of their current salary The Thunderbird talked to two employees, both of whom said they were bitter about losing their jobs after "years of loyalty and service to the college " However, since the budget-cu- t proposal is not final, and must still receive the approval of the State Legislature, neither would speak on the record for fear of jeopardizing their careers The wife of one teacher said she and her husband have been waiting by the phone for more than a week "to hear if he'll have a job next year or not " strength of the college, so we looked at areas which would be least likely to aftect major numbers of enrollment and least likely to affect the quality and thrust of the college " Alger said "Faculty members are not interchangeable parts," he said "Faculty are trained in very specific disciplines Thus, it is possible to be discontinuing some programs, and the associated faculty with their specific specializations or disciplines, while at the same time the college is rehiring other faculty for programs which are to be maintained " He said most faculty members hired this fall were replacements for other teachers who have left the college Alger said newly hired employees "are in disciplines or areas that are not being recommended for budget cuts accounting, math, music, art and psychology " ' We were directed to review for discontinuation programs in areas in which we weie overextended, had program duplications, had nonessential programs or services, or had programs of lesser priority which could be terminated with minimal negative effects,' " Alger said While some members ot the faculty won t talk about the cuts, saying they don't want to put themselves in a vulnerable position at a time when jobs are being trimmed from the college budget, others say the overall ettect of the cuts is hard to estimate When he announced the cuts and layoffs last week, Sherratt said such measures are never pleasant "Budget cuts of this magnitude cannot be taken without considerable pain We're talking about affecting people's lives and the services and programs SUSC offers in southern Utah " ' The administration has received some criticism for laying off long term, tenured employees, while retaining employees hired only this year However, SUSC Provost Terry Alger says that criticism is unfair because the governor ordered that all cuts be "program specific " "We were directed to maintain the $ ! 3 V lack Stokes learned two weeks ago that his job would end with the termination ot the social work program Stokes is one of seven faculty members who were cut with their respective programs (continued on page McKay, Hansen clash in heated Convocation debate BY GREG PRINCE ' The issue in this campaign is who s going to represent you, as the people of this district he, or I," said Gunn McKay, Democratic candidate for the 1st congressional district The preparations for Thursday's Convocation began unusually early as camera crews from KUED television positioned their equipment and rehearsed their routines The Convocation series hosted McKay and incumbent Jim Hansen, candidates tor Utah's first congressional district seat in a debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Utah The opening statements of both candidates explained why they felt they should run for office and why they make the best candidate "I decided that wanted to run for congress because felt that there was a real need to do something " said Hansen "I have to say very candidly that felt very strong about w'hat was happening in America " "You'll hear a lot about philosophy, you'll hear a lot about presidents, but the bottom line is who can more effectively repiesent you in this district,' said McKay "I say we need some aggressive Utah-styl- e leadership in the majonty to protect the interests and concerns of the people " Although the candidates covered many topics, much ot the debate centered on the economy "There is a distinct and clear difference here," said Hansen, comparing his economic policies to those of his opponent; "For example, the national debt when he was there was raised 14 times He voted every time to raise the national debt," said Hansen, referring to McKay's voting record Hansen said he wasn't in favor of raising the national debt and that he W'ould rather keep it low, keeping the I -- lim Hansen, Republican incumbent public in mind ' m rated as a fiscal conservative, and if everyone had voted like a fiscal conservative there wouldn't be a debt like that " In his rebuttal, McKay said that when he came into ottice, Llansen accused him of being the big spender of all time "Let's look at a few things about spending," said McKay when referring to a series of graphs which showed the trade and budget deficits "You see these low spots, that s where the deficit was when was in "You see what's been happening in the six years he's been there?," said McKay, referring to Hansen's terms in otrice ' Look at the total deficit This was tnere is wheie it was when after 10 years ' Look at where it's gone in the six years he s been there That's more deficit than was accumulated since Washington," he said ' Let's look at the trade deficit We had surplus, and look what's happened to it, $110 billion deficit Who's really the conservative around here?" SUSC student Monica Moe asked the candidates what could be done about cutbacks m financial aid programs "The federal government isn't the answer to all things You get more for your dollars on the state level than you ever do on the other ' level, said Hansen "What we have done, determined that there is is we have a needs factor on Pell Grants and on student loans," he said, adding that since many people who don't need assistance are eligible for the program, the number one use of financial aid is for certifcate of deposit notes and cars Responding to Hansen, McKay said, "I was at Utah State University the other day, and had a number of I (continued on page Vyr? r's- 6) F S' f Gunn Mcka), Democratic challenger 9) |