By Brian Ray

Emotions ran high last Tuesday as University of Louisville President Dr. James R. Ramsey held a forum to discuss the state sponsored cuts to higher education and how this would affect the university’s budget.

With a six percent cut to higher education funding in the proposed state budget, U of L will try to make up the difference by raising tuition. The total tuition hike is not finalized yet, but Ramsey is proposing a nine percent hike, or roughly $312 more per semester for residents and $310 for non-residents.

According to Ramsey, 22 percent of U of L’s operating budget comes from the state of Kentucky. A PowerPoint presentation shown to the forum audience indicated $193,472,200 is usually given to the university by the state, which accounts for 46 percent of the revenue generated by the university.

In his presentation, Ramsey lamented the loss of adequate state support for higher education.

“This is a devastating budget for higher education,” said Ramsey. “Each three percent cut to higher education results in about a $5 million loss for the university.”

According to Ramsey there will be a 2.2 percent average cut to every department at U of L. There will also be only a one percent salary increase for faculty members over the next year.

Rudy Spencer, current SGA Services Vice President, wanted to know exactly how the 2.2 percent cut would be enacted.? At the forum, Spencer asked the question about which areas are going to be hit the hardest with the budget cut.

“The Provost and the President could not answer that question because the final numbers have not been set,” said Spencer.

Some faculty members in the audience expressed discontent toward the one percent salary increase. Linda Gigante, a professor of art history, discussed the effect a low salary increase could have on employee morale.

“You cannot calculate morale,” Gigante said to Ramsey. “Often times, you can’t come back from something like this.”

In the wake of this announcement, students have expressed their anger toward the situation, but also understanding toward university administrators.

“The fact that tuition is rising so much does make me mad, but those running a college only look for money, just like any other business in the world,” said Amber Meyers, a freshman French major.

Others feel these cuts to higher education and tuition hikes are going to significantly damage the futures of Kentucky students.

“I don’t think college education is a right, it is a privilege, but I do think it needs to be more available so more people may be privileged,” SGA President Brian Hoffman said.

“It is more difficult to get a decent paying job nowadays without a college education, so college is becoming something of a necessity. When they raise the tuition, not as many people can afford it and may not be able to get their dream career.”

Communications and Marketing Vice President John Drees said the budget was not as bad as it could have been, as the original budget proposed by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear called for a 25 percent cut to higher education.

“So instead of having to absorb a $25 million cut, we had to endure a $10 million cut,” Drees said. “$10 million is still a severe cut, but $25 million would have been devastating.”

Hoffman went on to say the university is making a mistake by allowing its tuition plans to rely on state appropriations.

“To say this is entirely Frankfort’s fault is false,” Hoffman, a senior political science major, said. “All I would like to see is a reasonable long-term tuition plan based on affordability for the population we serve and then stick to it.”

Spencer said he was disappointed by the tuition hike, but that students need to give themselves more of a voice in the tuition setting process.

“It is not the best times for U of L students, but we can make higher education a priority in the commonwealth,” Spencer said. “I encourage students to go home, advocate and vote for legislators who have a record of supporting higher education.”

According to Drees, the university’s budget is pending approval from the Board of Trustees and the Council on Post Secondary Education. A recommendation will be sent to the CPE on April 25 and 30. The council will take action on May 9.