The
C
October 30, 2008
ommunicator Spokane Falls Community College
Celebrating 40 years of campus coverage.
Volume 40 Issue 2
State budget cuts to affect CCS All-college meeting covers financial future Jon Brown
K-12 schools. Palek reported that SFCC would adjust to a portion of the cuts by putting controls on faculty travel. No hiring freeze has been announced, but Palek said that some recently vacated positions will not
be refilled until the economic situation improves. He also tried to assure those in attendance that SFCC’s money reserves would al low the school to weather the
See Future on page 2.
Gov. Gregoire’s plans concern administration
Zac Whitman
The Communicator
The Communicator
SFCC’s operating budget has been cut by nearly $500,000 this year, and could experience further cuts depending on future state revenue reports, according to SFCC president Mark Palek. The budget cuts and other issues were discussed Tuesday at the first all-school meeting of the 2008 school year. Gov. Christine Gregoire announced the cuts earlier this month, shaving $36 million from colleges and universities across Washington, but leaving intact the budgets of the state’s
Facing a $440,000 budget cut with more cuts to follow in November, SFCC administrators scrambling to deal with a sudden budget deficit. “This is happening quicker than I have ever seen,” said SFCC President Mark Palek. Due to a 1 percent across-theboard cut to state agencies issued by Gov. Christine Gregoire in October, this cut equates to $1.5 million for CCS, SFCC was apportioned over 28 percent of this amount.
Jolene Denny/ The Communicator
Students, staff and administrators watch a presentation at the meeting.
U decide 2008 Campaigns turn attention to students Jon Brown
The Communicator Heather Jones/ The Communicator
Students hope for a greener city.
Bioneers hold conference on SFCC campus Jon Brown
The Communicator SFCC hosted its second annual Bioneers conference, gathering people from a variety of backgrounds to discuss topics centered in social and environmental issues. The Bioneers’ stated mission is to “restore our imperiled communities,” according to the organization’s website. SFCC English
See Bioneers on page 3.
The youth vote is expected to have an historic impact on the 2008 presidential election. Voters between the ages of 18 and 29 have traditionally been very difficult to mobilize since the legal voting age was set at 18 in 1972. Recent polls taken by CNN and Time Magazine, however, point toward record numbers of young people getting involved in the 2008 presidential elections-the majority of them gravitating toward Democratic party candidate Barack Obama. According to the Harvard University Institute of Politics, youth voter turnout was at its highest level in 32 years in the 2004 election, and is anticipated to be even higher this year. In that election, John Kerry won 54 percent of the
Eating smart Page 10.
The Communicator
youth vote compared to George Bush’s 45 percent, and still lost. The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), an organization that gathers data on youth voting patterns, will release its official 2008 youth voter turnout statistics on Nov. 5. The Washington Post’s daily-
updated tracking poll shows Barack Obama holding a 64 percent to 33 percent lead over John McCain (as of Oct. 24,) among voters aged 18-29. McCain, however, shows no signs of giving in. “I will contest every vote of every young American,” McCain said
See Campaigns on page 2.
Communicator staff
Talent show Page 8.
(509)533-3602
Play preview Page 12.
Traditionally a budget cut of 1 percent would be offset by a tuition hike of 3 percent and would potentially hurt student’s pocket books. The ray of sunshine is that a hike in tution usually equates to increases in financial aid also. On Oct. 23 around 25 staff and faculty attended a fiscal workshop to discuss SFCC’s budget status. “Everything we spend is in the bank,” Palek said. “It is a very conservative approach and we will have to continue this in the future.” According to CCS administrators, the problem with the cut is that it is already half way through the fiscal year and half of the operating budget is already spent. SFCC has a base-operating budget of under $24 million.
See Concern on page 2.
Activity fees fund student services Jolene Denny
The Communicator After classes are over and homework is next stop on the list, finding a dead car or being locked out can be disheartening. SFCC’s security department receives calls from students daily asking if they can help. And they can. The Associated Student Services and Activities Fees are spread throughout several programs to provide assistance for students. The campus security office provides jump starts; lock out assistance and an escort service to all SFCC students free of charge. On a daily basis they have at least seven to ten request for a jump start and around five to ten requests for assistance with lock outs. “We have at least a dozen students that we hear from on a weekly basis,” said Dennis Hauenstein,
See Services on page 3.
Cross country Page 15.
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