Students meet to discuss 413
All those in attendance voice their opposition to tax-lid initiative
By Brian Carlson
Staff reporter
It’s up to students at the
University of Nebraska to voice their
opposition to an initiative that could
cut university funding and force
tuition increases, UNL’s student body
president said Tuesday evening.
In a discussion at Neihardt
Residence Hall attended by about 10
people, ASUN President Sara Russell
cited a study by the Legislative Fiscal
Office estimating the University of
Nebraska would lose $20 million if
Initiative 413 is passed on Nov. 3.
“A lot of people behind the initia
tive believe students are too lazy to
get out there and vote for them
selves,” she said. “We need to prove
they’re wrong.”
No one at the gathering spoke in
favor of the initiative, which would
slow the rate of growth of state rev
enue available for spending to the rate
of inflation plus population growth.
The discussion, sponsored by the
Neihardt student assistants, original
ly was designed to present both views
on Initiative 413.
However, proponent speakers
were unable to attend.
Russell said that, if faced with the
expected cuts, the University of
'Nebraska-Lincoln would have to
raise tuition 22 percent to preserve all
current programs and salaries.
Although UNL would not raise
tuition that much, she said, it would
probably have to cut faculty and pro
grams and impose at least a double
digit tuition increase.
That could create a vicious cycle,
she said. Higher tuition would create
lower enrollment, which would in
turn force raised tuition rates and
lower enrollment further, she said.
“You’ll continue to pay more for
less of an education,” she said.
At a time when UNL faculty
members already are underpaid com
pared with peer institutions, now is
no time to further squeeze the univer
sity’s resources, Russell said.
“Nobody questions the need for
lower taxes in Nebraska. But I don’t
think this is the right answer.”
Those sentiments were echoed
after the discussion by Mike
Butterfield, a sophomore chemical
engineering major.
“I oppose it because of the overall
effect on education - it wouldn’t be
good for UNL,” he said. “I do agree
with the fact that spending needs to
be limited, but this isn’t the way to do
it.”
Sara Shadbolt, a senior secondary
education major who attended the
66
Nobody questions
the need for
lower taxes in
Nebraska. But I
don’t think
this is the
right answer.”
Sara Russell
ASUN president
discussion, said voters should read
the fine print of Initiative 413.
Although the initiative allows
exceptions to spending limits in
emergency situations, it wouldn’t
allow additional spending to compen
sate workers for their extra hours in
situations such as last October’s
snowstorm, she said.
Russell said about 20 students
have consistently participated in
Students Against the Lid, whose next
meeting is Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. in the
Nebraska Union.
She also said a march to oppose
413 is scheduled for Oct. 28, at noon,
outside the Nebraska Union.
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