Daily Helmsman The
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Japanese Still Reeling from Quake Thousands living in makeshift shelters; food and water at a premium
Vol. 78 No. 104
see page 5
Independent Student Newspaper of The University of Memphis
www.dailyhelmsman.com
Haslam budget would bolster state wages BY ERICA HORTON News Reporter University of Memphis employees could receive their first raise in four years through Governor Bill Haslam’s 2012 budget, which proposes giving state employees a 1.6 percent pay increase. In October 2010, members of The U of M’s United Campus Workers, Progressive Student Alliance and Workers Interfaith Network held a public forum in the University Center to raise awareness about University employee pay and changes to insurance policies. The groups are working to help U of M employees not only get a raise but also, for some, have their pay increased to living wage — $11.62 in Memphis. Tom Smith, coordinator of The U of M’s United Campus Workers, said he thinks it’s great news that there is finally a pay raise proposal in Haslam’s budget but added that a 1.6 percent raise for someone making less than $20,000 a year is very little money.
In Haslam’s State of the State Address, presented in early March, the governor said that due to the tough economy, the state government has “held the line on increased wages” in recent years. “While (a 1.6 percent increase) is less than I would like to do — and doesn’t begin to make up for three years without a raise — it is a first step,” Haslam said. Dave Smith, Haslam’s press secretary, said the governor believes there are a lot of dedicated workers for the state who really believe in what they’re doing and deserve a raise. “During the campaign, it was what he really wanted to do,” he said. “If you’re going to attract the best workers, then you need to compensate them accordingly.” Tom Smith, of UCW, said for U of M employees and even faculty members, a 1.6 percent raise wouldn’t cover the increased costs of University health insurance, but an equal-dollar pay raise would mean all workers received the same raise for the year, no matter their position. “We’ve encouraged (the legislature)
to do an equal-dollar raise as a first step,” he said. “We’ve introduced a bill with (State) Senator Beverly Marrero and (State) Representative Mike Turner to give a $2,000 pay raise to all higher education employees.” Ralph Faudree, U of M provost, said he thinks the potential pay raise Haslam proposed would be “positive for everyone.” “Clearly, for some individuals, the lack of salary increases has been difficult for them,” he said. “We just have to wait at this stage and see the nature of the salary increases. We don’t know for sure if it’s going to be confirmed by the legislature.” Faudree said in previous years, when the time has come for pay increases, The University has handed out a variety of raises to its employees, including acrossthe-board and merit raises for more than 2,500 workers. “If there (have not) been salary increases for some time, we usually do acrossthe-board raises so everyone receives something, but at this stage, we just don’t know,” he said. “Until we receive
Haslam guidelines from the legislature, The University won’t be able to outline any-
see
Raise, page 7
Joe Jackson will carry on Finch legacy Professor
to present theories on financial literacy
BY JOHN MARTIN Sports Editor
so, he blurred the line between black and white during a time in which racial tension in Memphis was at its highest. Joe Jackson’s grandfather, Peter, told him When Finch chose to play for the Tigers the Orange Mound legend of Larry Finch in 1969, the city was still reeling from the when he was a child. sanitation workers’ strike and subsequent Peter, who played against Finch at the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. now-defunct Caperville High, recounted “He wanted to go to The University how savvy Finch was during his years at of Memphis because it was Memphis,” The University of Memphis. He could never said former U of M guard John Wilfong, forget Finch’s unique jump shot — the way who knew Finch well. “He basically went he’d gracefully leap toward the basket rath- against his community, against his city. He er than squaring up. It was tough to block. had charisma.” Jackson Today, the was young, Tigers practice e walked the same in the Larry O. though, and his attention streets, played on the same Finch Center was fixated on campus. courts. When Larry Finch Inside, the mostly on his own potential. are was young, he had to think walls He didn’t care adorned with about some like me. He wanted to be several picformer coltures of Finch the best. I take pride in lege player’s in a Memphis u n o r t h o d o x playing with his spirit inside State uniform. jumper. But that’s me.” Little did about as physiJackson know cally close as — Joe Jackson how important Jackson gets Freshman guard Finch, who to Finch. He died last weeknever actually end at age 60 after years of health issues, met the late legendary player and coach. was to his livelihood as a U of M basketball “That’s one thing I wish I would’ve player. done,” Jackson said. “I wish I could’ve got “When I was smaller and younger, I a chance to meet him, you know, because didn’t really even think about it like that that’s really the Memphis legend. I mean, because I was just trying to worry about we got a lot of big names, but he’s the one myself,” said the freshman guard, who, like because if Penny Hardaway was the one, Finch, hails from Orange Mound. “Now, he’d have the gym (named after him). I love it’s really bigger than what it seems. We’re Penny Hardaway, but Larry Finch he creplaying in his facility. We’re actually repre- ated the monster.” senting him.” Jackson, like Finch, grew up in the rough As the story goes, Finch was the first streets of Orange Mound, an urban comAfrican-American player from Memphis to munity in Memphis that’s suffered from stay home to play at The U of M. In doing violence and other crime in recent years.
BY ROBERT MOORE News Reporter
by David C. Minkin
“W
Freshman guard Joe Jackson hails from Orange Mound, the same neighborhood as Memphis legend Larry Finch.
“Back in the day, Orange Mound was more family-oriented. Now it’s kind of crazy,” Jackson said. Jackson attended Sheffield Middle School and went on to graduate from White Station High School, albeit not before passing Finch in most categories in the Tennessee high school basketball record books. With his commitment to The U of M in 2009, Jackson became the first Orange Mound native since Finch to stay home and it might stay that way for a while.
see Jackson, page 8
Economics professor Julia Heath will lead a discussion on “Financial Literacy for the 21st Century” today in room 225 of the Ned R. McWherter Library. Heath will discuss the evolution of the term “financial literacy” and will cover her ideas on how the public’s approach to financial literacy needs to change. Heath co-founded “Smart Tennessee,” a statewide financial literacy educational program for students in elementary through high school and also currently serves as the director of the Center for Economics at The U of M. Her speech is part of Faculty Scholarship Week. All week long, University Libraries and the Friends of University Libraries will host an exhibit in McWherter Library featuring different works — such as books, CDs and artwork — created by several U of M professors.