Statesman 3-12-14

Page 1

Opinion

Sports

Student Life

Students today are busier than ever, A5

Baseball and softball teams face long and winding road, B1

Talent show raises money for CHUM, B4

THE STATESMAN

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH

WWW.UMDSTATESMAN.COM

Dayton proposes UMD get extra $5 million The governor’s budget asks for additional funding so UMD can avoid faculty layoffs BY KYLE FARRIS News Editor

In his supplemental budget plan released March 6, Gov. Mark Dayton asked for an additional $5 million in state funding for the U of M system, all of which he requested go to UMD. The Democratic governor said he doesn’t want the University to lay off faculty as a result of the school’s finan-

cial shortfall and budget re-examination. “We are deeply appreciative of the support of higher education in Minnesota and of the governor’s interest in our campus,” Chancellor Lendley Black wrote in a statement. Latest numbers put UMD’s structural deficit at $9.4 million and its nonrecurring deficit at $3.3 million. The structural deficit refers to the Univer-

sity’s annual deficit and the non-recurring deficit refers to transient or onetime expenditures. Approximately $2.5 million in cuts, which include voluntary layoff programs affecting more than 60 employees, and $700,000 in revenue increases have been proposed. The projected gains leave UMD’s structural deficit at more than $6 million. In addition to the voluntary layoffs, the University confirmed cuts in mid-February to the Office of Civic Engagement and involuntary layoffs for the Office’s two staff members. Though Dayton said he wants UMD

to receive the $5 million, Minnesota law prohibits state government from allocating money to the five campuses in the U of M system. The money is instead allocated by the Board of Regents, a 12-person panel based in the Twin Cities. During a forum at UMD in January, Dayton said he was “shocked” after hearing from a student that there is a funding imbalance in the U of M system.

Community leaves its ‘Mark’

see DAYTON PROPOSAL, A4 UMD WILL OFFER BUDGET TO U OF M FRIDAY, A3

Gun alert timeline

Thursday, March 6 7:15 a.m. A University employee places a 911 call. 7:17 a.m. UMD police officer Mike Brostrom is briefed. 7:19 a.m. Officer Brostrom finds and contacts the males, who are uncooperative. 7:32 a.m. Duluth police arrive and males are detained. 7:48 a.m. Police recover an airsoft pistol and later live firearm ammunition. 7:58 a.m. The University issues an alert warning of a person with a weapon. 8:25 a.m. Campus is declared clear and officials say no threat exists.

MEMBERS of the UMD and Duluth community met at Malosky Stadium March 9 to make snow angels for Make Your Mark: Angels for a Cause. The Rotaract Club of UMD, which organized the event, drew more than 400 people and raised more than $14,000. A share of the money will go toward the construction of a shelter for homeless youth. DANIEL BADHWA/STATESMAN

UMD police held a press conference Thursday. ALEX GANEEV/STATESMAN

MnDOT releases survey Students lobby lawmakers for new high-speed rail for tuition and new projects BY GRAHAM HAKALA Staff Reporter

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is looking for input on a proposed high-speed rail from people who frequently make trips between Duluth and Minneapolis. MnDOT is collecting ridership information in regard to the proposed Northern Lights Express passenger train service that would connect Duluth to Minneapolis.

INDEX:

To take the survey Visit the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s project website at www.dot.state.mn.us/nlx/.

According to the MnDOT website for the project, The Northern Lights Express is a high-speed passenger rail project that would provide

News: A1 - A4 |

see RAIL SURVEY, A3

At Capitol, Student Association members voice needs of students BY KYLE FARRIS News Editor

A group of about 30 students visited the State Capitol March 6 to lobby lawmakers for lower tuition and money for UMD construction projects that include a new chemical science building.

Opinion: A5 - A6 | Sports: B1 - B2

| Student Life: B3 - B5

Ben Dufault, vice president of external affairs for the UMD Student Association, organized the third annual Bulldog Lobby Day, and said he was encouraged by the attention student issues received from legislators. “There was surprisingly

a large amount of support for both of those projects,” Dufault said about proposals for the new chemical science building and additional Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) funding, which would go toward renovating Cina Hall and Heller Hall. “I think the way that the economic forecast for the state keeps getting better and better, more people are willing to see LOBBY DAY, A3


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