Utah higher education is under attack.

It is notnews to anyone that our nation is experiencing a time of extreme financial crisis. Every state is making cut backs, and budget cuts are neccesary. However, far too often the first cuts are made from education, and this time is no exception, but this time, as my friend Justin put it, "They aren't just making cuts, they are severing limbs."

The Utah State Legislature has proposed to make a 19% budget cut on higher education, which will take place immediatly. If this happens, USU will lose $30 million and over 660 jobs. Basically, 1 out of every 5 jobs will be lost at USU. The affects of this bill will be severe:

-Loss of academic programs, some have already been lost. The USU Theatre program was the most recent cut.
-Higher tuition costs, which have already risen $600 since I started school, without a budget crisis. It has been said that students wouldn't be asked to carry the burden of more than 1/3 of the new costs, but that is still a huge sum.
-Loss of untenured faculty, and any faculty who does not teach classes required for graduation.
-Fewer student services will be offered, campus police and maintanence have already been targeted, student leadership and activities will be targeted next.
-Loss of over 600 on-campus jobs, including several student jobs, and quite possibly my own.

USU's President, Stan Albrecht declared this the greatest financial crisis the university has ever faced, and the repercussions of it would set the university back by over a decade.

However, there is a slightly better option. The governor has proposed an 11% cut. With his proposal USU would still lose $17 million, and 373 job cuts over two-and-a-half years, but it is much better than what congress is proposing.

This is my opinion on this entire matter. My generation did not cause the economic crisis our country is facing, but we will be the ones to bear the burden. We will be the ones working to get our nation back on its feet. The only thing that we have going for us is our education, it is the one thing we have to prepare us to deal with an awful economy, and it is being taken away from us. I feel like my generation just can't win. I wish that the legislators and oher lawmakers could understand the toll these cuts are going to take on USU, it is going to completely change the university I know and love.

The saddest part, is that there are currently talks going on in congress of more waves of cuts to come. It would not just be nearly 20%, but it could be even more.

Please take the time to write your legislator about this issue. Also, tell anyone you can about this issue. It is so important.

Next Friday, January 30, 2009, Students from all over Utah are gathering at the capitol to protest the legislatures proposal and to show support for the governors plan. It is our hope that we can show the legislature just how much damage will be done.

This is my future, I care deeply about it.

It is going to take US and U to save USU.

I just wanted to let everyone know this is a huge issue, and will impact so many things. Thanks for listening to this issue, and anything you can do, especially writing your legislators would be great.