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Show Opinion SOUTHERN UTAH STATE COLLEGE, CEDAR CITY STUDENTS MUST SUPPORT LIBRARY Despite the season, all are not sharing in the yuletide cheer on the SUSC campus. The Library, long considered the foundation for the quality of academics, has been caught in a blizzard of riducule for several years. This is nothing new. Foremost on most students list of wants is a library worthy of the name. What comes as a surprise to The T hunderbird, however, is that many of the critics doing the most fussing have little to offer when it comes to seeking a solution; faultfinding without offering resolution is nothing more than an exercise in futility. This has not always been the case. Two years ago, ASSUSC voluntarily placed a surtax on student tuition that generated $92,000 for Library acquisition. Needless to say, this proved to be a much desired sugar plum for the Library, allowing it to replace many classic books lost to the fire of 1948. On the other hand, periodicals and scientific journals the bulk of the research library requires a base budget increase, and this can only come through the Utah Legislature. We may not believe in Santa Claus, but we realize that with diligence, this proposal can become a reality through the efforts of those willing to spare the rhetoric and right whats wrong. The Utah Student Association, a student advocacy group representing every college or university in Utah, has arrived at what we believe to be a proposal worth considering. In a bill to be presented before the Utah Legislature in January, its been proposed that adequate continued funds not one time allocations could be had by sharing 50 percent of the costs with students and 50 percent appropriated funds through the Legislature. What this means is that Library acquisition will become a money taken annually from student fees to ASSUSC Senate approved organizations. various support This additional funding would supplement the Education and General funds, solicited through the state Legislature, currently providing the bulk of Library operating monies, which now stands at 3.5 percent of the colleges total appropriations. In light of the suggestions made by the American Library Association, however, the Library would need an annual funding of five to six percent of the total college Education and General funds to be up to national standards. We feel that by sharing responsibility, we could bring the Library up to national parity without straining the states or students pocketbook. Other solutions to the Librarys problems are being considered, but we feel the previously mentioned solution will allow the Library to grow as the school grows. We urge support of this bill from faculty and students alike the passage of which will assuredly leave a smile on the faces of everyone. 9 FAF, -- THE THUNDERBIRD lVeVe WAp ??AScY TO COlHCiOe THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1989 ApjiNTiKGt WiT6 Tde. jAt PAGE 4 SseePiKq line-ite- The Thunderbird VOLUME 84, NUMBER 21 Editor Rachel Talbot Associate Editor Kathleen Midgley Opinion Director James Spainhower Photo Editor Jeff Dower Arts &. Leisure Editor Lisa Keene Sports &. Outdoors Editor Brent Richey Senior Staff Writers Heather Cox Jodi Reinard Photo Technician Jerry Whirtemore Production Manager Lynn Dennett Ad Manager Michelle Jensen Faculty Adviser Larry Baker The Ti'underbird is published each Monday and Thursdav ut the academic year by and for the student body of Southern Utah State College and is not aft.hated in any wav with the Colleges department ot communication. The views and opinions expressed in The Thunderbtrc are the opinions of the publications individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the view of the institution, faculty, staff or student body in general. The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of The Thunderbird as a single entity. Letters to the editor must be typed and include the name and phone number. Only the name will be printed. Names wtll not be withheld under any circumstances and the editor reserves editing privileges. Letters must be submitted by noon Fridays for Monday editions, 5 pm. Tuesdays for Thursday editions. The Thunderbird editorial offices m SUSC Library 103; advertising m Library 102. Mail at SUSC Box 9384, Cedar City, UT 84720. Phone (801) or UEA demands excessive, says UTA TO THE EDITOR: Utah school teachers are being used by their union, claims the Utah Taxpayers Association. The Utah Education Association, the states largest teachers union is building up false hopes for school teachers in an effort to bolster its The union has membership. experienced some dissatisfaction from rank and file members and have also met with competition from the American Federation of teachers. Now the union feels it must flex its political muscles to make a show of strength before its membership. The most upsetting develop-men- t is the threat that the union has made that teachers will go on strike if the legislature doesnt meet its demands for nearly $200 million in higher funding. This really amounts to taking our school kids hostage if we dont cave in to the demands of the union. Its a little like the tactics used by terrorists. If teachers knew how ridiculous the demand for $200 million was, they wjuld realize they are being used by union bosses. Ive noted that during the last five years, legislative appropiiations for education have increased $30 million to $35 mil'ion per year. To expect a $200 mil' ion or 19 percent increase in one year is absolutely unachievable, and union bosses know it. Ive compared the $200 million request with the $165 million record tax increase of 1987 which caused tax protesters to hit the streets with petitions. The $165 million was divided among public education, higher education, highways, social services and other state programs. I dont see how a union leader cart keep a straight face while demanding a whopping $200 million increase all for education. I agree with Gov. Bangerter that the UEA tries to build low teacher morale so they can ask for more money. The union keeps telling us how bad Utah schools are but they have no facts to back up those claims except for low school funding. Despite relatively low spending per student, we have one of the best school systems in the nation. We have respectable test scores, low dropout rates, high advanced placement participation, low school crime, and the lowest pupil-teachratios in Utah history. The higher funding and smaller classes in other states do not always result in better education. The additional funding to often goes support administrative overhead due to hundreds of small school districts, half empty school buildings on by declining brought enrollments, and costly intervention programs due to lower family values and social problems. wouldnt trade our school system for any other states, and Im sure our teachers wouldnt I either. The cost of living is much higher in many of the states which pay more, but the quality of life is much lower. My Association agrees that to be increased funding for education in Utah, but there needs Despite relatively low spending per student, we have one of the best school systems in the nation. urge a long term plan, not a quick fix. If teacher salaries are to be increased to bring them more in line with the rest of the nation, lets do it over a few years, not all at once. The T axpayers Association also insists that increased funding for education be tied to educational restructuring including pay for performance and parent choice in schools. I Howard Stephenson Utah Taxpayers Association |
