Nearing the end of an otherwise uneventful meeting, Executive Vice President Spencer Lee of the Associated Students of USU took time to alert members of the Executive Council to the university’s impending budgetary concerns. A 30-minute discussion about student involvement and the severe situation of higher education in Logan and Utah ensued.

“I’m going to be frank and honest right now,” Lee said. “You have to be talking budget cuts with people.”

Lee initiated multiple events of last week’s Civic Awareness Week with comments regarding USU’s budget cuts and urging attendees to become involved in the efforts of saving higher education. He chaired Tuesday’s council meeting in light of President Tyler Tolson’s absence due to illness and took advantage of the time to repeat his comments to council members and request their assistance in involving students campus-wide in lobbying efforts to the state legislature.

“We were fat. We’re to the bone structure now,” Lee said of USU’s recent cuts. “We’re to the minimum of what we can keep offering and remain renowned.”

Lee referenced USU President Stan Albrecht’s Sept. 15 State of the University Address, in that USU received a 21 percent budget cut coming into this academic year but due to federal stimulus money is currently operating as though only 9 percent had been cut. Regardless of what further reductions are made, Lee said, USU will have to make up the remainder of those cuts.

“We aren’t even all the way done with what we’ve already cut,” Lee said, adding that he has been told an additional 7 percent reduction is likely.

Vice President of Graduate Studies Rick Kelly said although he has heard mention of budget concerns, the effects have so far been abstract.

“I personally have not had anything change for me,” Kelly said. “I don’t think I’m alone in not seeing drastic reductions.”

Other council members agreed with Kelly, saying that for the most part the university’s financial woes have not been very publicly addressed.

“Why are there no huge posters in the TSC? Why is it being quieted if it’s such a huge issue?” Natural Resources Sen. John Rentschler said.

Lee said while the issue is not necessarily being quieted, an increase in student involvement and awareness is necessary before any results would be seen. He said a cut of 1 percent less amounts to millions of dollars for the university.

“Everybody has to be on the same page,” Lee said. “A grassroots movement needs to have more blades of grass.”

Lee said his priority for the rest of the year is a campaign for saving higher education. He mentioned upcoming advertisements and events to encourage students and community members to write to their state representatives and asked that USU senators meet with their respective deans to find out from where funds have been and will be withdrawn. The council discussed many ways to increase student awareness – including Web sites, letter-writing activities, on-campus information booths, classroom visits and student lobbying in Salt Lake City. More concrete campaign items are to be discussed in future council meetings.

Lee said that in the past, the different Utah schools have competed for state money but the current economic situation has brought the various campuses together.

“This year for the first time ... higher ed is united. The whole state is coming together to say, Don’t cut higher ed,” Lee said. “In a world where every other country is increasing higher education, we are cutting. It’s not just a poor Utah thing, it’s nationwide.”

Lee’s passion for the subject was often referenced by council members, who generally expressed their support for Lee’s campaign and desire to assist in whatever ways possible.

In next week’s meeting, the council’s meeting time for spring semester will be discussed and a final vote will be taken regarding the ASUSU Information Desk. A notice has been placed at the desk informing campus organizations that materials are to be removed and approval for use will be required in the future.

– b.c.wood@aggiemail.usu.edu

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