The Vista January 27, 1987

Page 1

Capers stomp Drive safely Students named to Langston...page 6 on ice...page 5 Who's Who...page 4

21: 1987HE January

Vol. 85, No. 29

VI

STA

Tuesday Edition

Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma

Bellmon says increase state tuition, fee cost By Shannon Blockcolski Editor

Gov. Henry Bellmon has recommended a $60 million, or 15 percent, increase in tuition for all state institutions of higher education. Bellmon presented his $2.1 billion budget to a joint session of the Oklahoma House and Senate Monday, in which he also proposed creating a 6 cent gas tax, increasing funds for state elementary and secondary education by $71 million and eliminating the exemption on sales tax for professional services. During his address to the legislators, Bellmon said "The budget recommends increases in fees for services provided by the state government, which includes tuition." Bellmon said with the $60 million tuition increase, the primary beneficiary will be the student, whose future earnings will be enhanced. So that students who cannot afford the tuition increase are not denied access to state colleges and universities, Bellmon recommended the creation of a vastly expanded state loan at a favorable rate with repayment to come from the students' enhanced future earnings.

Bellmon said, "It is time for Oklahoma to relieve the taxpayer of a disproportionate share of the cost of education." Jeff Shilling, Student Association president, commented on the proposed tuition increase, "Last year, as a whole, the students at CSU weren't opposed to a 10 percent increase, but since it has only been a year since the last increase, students may not support another tuition hike. "I don't really know much about the situation, but I can say I think Bellmon does a lot of doubletalking." Neither Dr. Bill Lillard, CSU president, nor Dr. Larry Williams, vice president of administration, could be reached for comment at press time. Senate President Pro Tempore Rodger Randle said he thought the budget was a step in the right direction for Oklahoma and that it was time to "gore some sacred cows." In an interview with The Daily Oklahoman, House Majority Leader Guy Davis said he was sure the legislature would be able to find some mutual ground with Bellmon.

CSU woman trackster Kelli Hoy tackles the hurdles during the Sooner Indoor Relays Saturday at the Myriad Convention Center.

Activity building proposal passes by one vote By Shannon Blockcolski The resolution recommending the construction of a student group activity building passed with a 11-10-2 vote Monday during the student senate meeting. The proposal was brought to the senate floor for a vote after it had originally been tabled until Feb. 2. Two votes on the resolution were held due to a miscount. The resolution failed in the first

vote, but after Speaker of the House Nelaine Greenwalt and Deputy Speaker Kirk Killion recounted, the vote was actually 10-10-2. Then Greenwalt cast her vote in favor of the resolution. Suzanne Knopp, author of the original resolution, criticized a student senator during her author's explanation of the bill. "One senator had the audacity to say they would nuke this bill

before it got out of senate," she said. "As a senator, this person represents a division of the students, and should act accordingly." Roger Acebo, student senator, commented on Knopp's remarks, "I asked that the resolution be put on hold until more research would be done, and you told me you would work on it. Now it is before the senate for a vote, and you

Public hearing to feature views on tuition increase By Shannon Blockcolski A public hearing to discuss proposed changes in student fees and tuition at state colleges and universities will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday in the State Regents Conference Room 500 Education Building, State Capitol Complex. The hearing will provide an opportunity for individuals to express their views on proposed changes in special fees requested by several institutions, said David Blakeman, assistant chancellor for communication services. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education's proposal to the Legislature regarding fee and tuition limits also will be discussed. "The Regents will probably take no action at this hearing," Blakeman said. "It (the Regents) won't reach a final decision until February."

Blakeman said the hearing will include comments on the recommendation by Gov. Henry Bellmon's Higher Education Task Force to increase tuition and fees so students pay 25 percent of their education costs. "This is not necessarily the recommendation of the Regents," Blakeman said. In 1985 the Oklahoma Legislature directed the Regents to develop a long range plan by which fee increases would be scheduled for more than one year at a time. The Legislature said the plan should have students paying 25 percent of their costs within a period not to exceed ten years. The hearing also will include discussion on certain colleges and universities' requests to make changes in special fees. Blakeman said CSU has not requested any changes.

have done no research. I'm going to kill this bill." The resolution, written by Knopp with the budget, continuum and student activities committee, suggested $500,000 be allocated from the student activity budget to build a student facility for campus groups and organizations to hold meetings and activities. "By the close of the fall semester, the Student Association Executive Committee on Campus Organization Meetig and Activity Space was formed to investigate the needs status of campus organizations, Knopp said. "The committee was able to contact 31 of the 81 campus organizations. Of the said 31 organizations, 29 complained of inadequate resources for meetings," she added. The committee researched two of the unused buildings on campus, Evans Hall and the President's Home. Knopp said both buildings needed extensive renovation, with Evans Hall housing the CSU historical museum and the President's Home being a historical monument. "The resulting impact of the legislation upon the CSU student body has increased campus-wide involvement and input," Knopp said. During the debate prior to the vote, student senator David Fuller ,spoke against the resolution,

"Many students at CSU are commuters, and would say we need more parking rather than a building for a few campus groups to use." Killion spoke in favor of the bill, "The building will not be built just if this bill passes, it will probably go to the administration and then the Board of Regents. If it is an inadequate proposal, then they will not pass it." Knopp said the building proposal would be put up for to a campus wide student vote, even though it was not mentioned in the resolution. In other student senate business, two resolutions were passed. One bill advocated Student Association participation and allocation of funds for the national conference on student services and the other established a campus-wide chess tournament. A resolution calling for a change in parking for commuting students was submitted and sent to committee. The resolution proposed all students with commuter parking decals should be allowed to park in any of the designated commuter parking lots. Knopp was appointed the new director of public relations following the resignation of Acebo, and Jeanne Bernardy resigned as historian and chairman of the student activities committee.


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