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This past week Gov. Steve Beshear requested that all state universities devise a budget for the 2008-09 year cutting 12 percent, while requiring a 3 percent cut during the remainder of the 2007-08 year.

Beshear walked into a financial debacle when he took over as governor, but cutting our legs off at the knees cannot possibly be the answer.

In an e-mail sent out on his behalf, University of Louisville President Dr. James R. Ramsey said that at this time a hiring freeze would be one solution to fixing U of L’s budget for the remainder of the 2007-08 year.

However, the 2008-09 year will see budget cuts unsurpassed in recent years, setting us back funding wise, according to Ramsey, to 2001.

What do these budget cuts and hiring freeze mean to U of L’s students and professors? The looming budget cuts will possibly force a tuition hike resulting in a potential enrollment reduction. This could lead to fewer Kentuckians having the higher education and degrees needed in today’s work places.

In a letter to Beshear from the presidents of Kentucky universities and Bradford Cowgill, interim president of the Council on Postsecondary Education in Kentucky, a loss of potential researchers and competitive research grants will hinder U of L’s, as well as other state university’s progression.

Jobs that would have been created by university investments in research for new products and services could be limited and reduced.

Due to budget cuts, the number of scholarships and financial aid will undoubtedly be cut, causing a reduction of students with limited means, and also limiting their potential to obtain better careers.

According to Cowgill and university presidents, a higher student-faculty ratio will cause drop-out rates to increase. This could cause students who will not be receiving the one-on-one attention they may need to give up.

Subsequently, the university is announcing a new brand next week, an ad campaign replacing the ‘Dare to be Great’ motto. The new branding will promote U of L and hopefully bring more students to our campus.

Humorously, the university is starting this new campaign on the heels of budget cuts and hiring freezes.

The number of incoming freshmen is growing every year, and has increased to more than 3,400 since 2001. But, with budget cuts increasing, what will U of L have to offer these new students?

The answer is: higher tuition, fewer faculty members, less financial aid and scholarships and fewer research opportunities.

How about that for a new branding campaign?