Wednesday, June 19, 2013 // Issue 115, Volume 78
WEEKLY SUMMER EDITION
THE DAILY COUGAR
T H E
O F F I C I A L
S T U D E N T
N E W S PA P E R
O F
T H E
U N I V E R S I T Y
O F
H O U S T O N
STATE
ADVANCEMENT
Governor draws the line
UH sets sights on $1 billion
Perry denies higher education funding, vetoes regents power bill Mary Dahdouh News editor
Among Gov. Rick Perry’s slew of vetoes Friday were two bills targeting Texas public universities’ administrative power and funding, denying the UH System $250,000 in special programs support. The governor made several line-item vetoes in House Bill 1025, a key budget bill of the session, rejecting a series of special funding requests to multiple higher education institutions. Perry’s vetoes denied the University $ 100,000 for the William P. Hobby Jr. School of Public Affairs and UHD $150,000 for its Community Development Project. According to Perry’s veto statement, “the University did not request this special item in its Legislative Appropriations Request for FY 2014-15. If the William P. Hobby Jr. School of Public Affairs is a priority, the University can use its $3.8 million appropriation for institutional enhancement.” Perry likewise prefaced his lineitem vetoes for all higher education special item funding with a lengthy explanation. “Some special items are initially requested to provide start-up
Manuella Libardi Staff writer
explained that those vetoes are his efforts to combat rising tuition. “Because of the growth in special item funding, there is less state money to teach college students, which contributes to rising tuition,” Perry said. Students, like political science senior Diane Stout, believe Perry is using a false argument to keep crucial funding for reasons unclear. “It is especially worrisome for
The UH Division of University Advancement is in the planning and preparation phase of a university-wide campaign that will raise $1 billion in the coming five to seven years. The hallmarks of the campaign effort will consist of meaningful alumni and community engagement, along with private philanthropic partnerships, and the goal of raising at least $100 million annually for the duration of the campaign, all of which will be built on the pre-existing strengths of UH to create a bigger and better University. “We will raise at least $1 billion, that’s our league,” said Eloise Stuhr, vice president and vice chancellor for University Advancement for UH and the UH System. “The focus of the campaign is not about that number. It’s about transfor ming the University and taking it to the next level of excellence.”
GOVERNOR continues on page 3
CAMPAIGN continues on page 3
Gov. Rick Perry line-item vetoed several special program funding requests Friday submitted by several public Texas universities. Perry said the vetoes are his efforts to fighting rising tuition. | Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons funds for new academic programs, but once funded, they seldom go away,” Perry said. “One institution has four short-term special items that have been funded for the last 30 years. Institutions are rarely held accountable for these funds, which is why many of them stay in the budget, year after year, even after their purpose is no longer clear. This is not the best use of hard-earned tax dollars.” As public universities struggle with the rising cost of tuition, Perry
S I N C E
1 9 3 4
OPINION
Whistle blowing trends in US LIFE+ARTS
Barron’s touts summer menu SPORTS
Athletes juggle sports, school
BOARD OF REGENTS
Students give raised tuition mixed reviews
BY THE NUMBERS STUDENTS SEE STEADY INCREASE Year Projected 2013-14
2013-14 (projected)
Tuition Los Angeles
$7,669
2012-13
$7,513 $7 513
2011-12
$7,513
2010-11
$7,342
2009-10
$6,921
2008-9
$6,658
2007-8
$6,084
2006-7
$5,680
All information from nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter Graphic by Natalie Harms
Nam-My Le Staff writer
Students will begin paying higher tuition after the Board of Regents unanimously approved a proposal on Monday to increase the rates by approximately 4 percent. The percentage increase translates to an additional $13 per undergraduate semester credit hour or an additional $195.17 per semester for students who take 15 credit hours. The increase will be used to improve advising, hire additional faculty, increase financial aid and improve the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library; but not all students approve of the decision. “Any raise in tuition affects all of us, especially if you pay out of pocket or if you’re taking out loans,” said chemical engineering junior
Daniel Sierra. “Any increase is going to put a bigger burden on us.” Sierra, who finances his education through scholarships and loans, said the University could have used its current funds more wisely, instead of increasing tuition rates. “I feel there are funds going where they probably shouldn’t be,” Sierra said. “We pay enough for the education we get. Not everybody has a full ride or is funded by the University.” Sophomore pre-business major John Hounihan supports the decision to raise the rates, as state funding has dropped to 25 percent from 39 percent of UH’s budget in the last 10 years. TUITION continues on page 3
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ONLINE POLL How do you feel about the Board of Regents’ Fall tuition increase?
NEXT WEEK Construction company makes vertical progress on football stadium.
COUNTDOWN
15
Days until Fourth of July.
It’s been nearly 236 years since the first Independence Day in 1777.