Show What Tax Initiatives Mean to Joe Student and Myself 1 k f f fI I r t f f Dan Metcalf Met calf Horizon Managing Editor f If youre you're like me you were probably shocked at the number of students that showed up on the first first day of school There was no parking and everywhere you looked there were groups of cars hovering like vult vultures vultures t tures waiting for a small parking spot Pity the poor student student student stu stu- dent who did not finish registering before the first day of school There were lines of students as far as the eye could see in every direction For anyone who attended school at in the last few years you may have noticed that is growing at a rapid rate and is quickly becoming overcrowded One might say that is worthy of more state funding to accommodate the rapid growth rate something that is presently feasible But surprise surprise The Tax Coalition Coalition Coalition tion of Utah throws a big wrench in the spokes of higher education by proposing the biggest tax cut in Utah's his his- tory It is obvious to me that the proponents of the tax rollbacks care little if anything for higher education and that the passing of the initiatives would dampen many students' students and prospective students' students futures But what do the tax initiatives mean to me Ine and you as individuals For instance take Joe Student Suppose if you will the initiatives pass Joe would arrive at in inthe inthe inthe the morning only to find the parking situation worsened from the previous year because funding for parking space has been cut He then proceeds to the registration line only to find that there is a two hour wait because there are only two registrars available due to state layo layoffs After the thelong thelong thelong long wait Joe hurries to the cashiers cashier's booth for another long wait after which he is hit with the hardest fact of all Joe has always been glad that his tuition has been reasonable and relatively low in comparison to other institutions institutions institutions in in- of higher education Now Joe is charged over for his 12 credit hours When Wh Joe loe finishes writing out his check that will barely clear the bank he hurries off to his English class only to find it has been canceled because there isn't anyone qualified to teach the class You see 12 percent of the faculty has been cut They tried to get the welding instructor to teach it but he already has been overloaded with ten hours of work per day Frustrated Joe returns to registration only to find that they are now closed because the registrars hours have been cut Discouraged Discouraged Discouraged Dis Dis- Joe decides that maybe school isn't worth all the trouble He decides to get a factory job in California never to return to the Beehive State again Such are the harsh realities of the of-the the tax rollbacks these are very possible realities and not just scare tactics I know my education and Joes Joe's are very much in jeopardy I will register and vote against the tax initiatives I just hope that Joe will wilt I |