Home subscribe manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

News
Dec. 06, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nevada State College students rally against cuts

Petition seeks to sway Gibbons on budget

By LAWRENCE MOWER
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Less than a week after university system leaders criticized them for being apathetic in the face of sharp budget cuts, Nevada's college and university students began a push against the proposed cutbacks.

At Nevada State College on Wednesday, student leaders collected 65 signatures on petitions in just the first 30 minutes of a midday rally.

Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

Most Popular Stories
  • NORM: Phelps galpal gets exposure on Web
  • NORM: Robin Gibb in airport standoff
  • NORM: Web site shows life of Mazzeo
  • NORM: Britney-LV buzz hard to nail down
  • NORM: Wynn coveted cathedral's land
  • Las Vegas police use saturation strategy to cool 'hot spots' of crime
  • DOUG ELFMAN: Comedian says his arrest a joke
  • 2-year-old boy dies in dog attack
  • Fresh-faced trio wows throng of youthful fans at MGM Grand
  • DOUG ELFMAN: Cab, limo drivers take pulse of tourists



    • "We will lose teachers, we will lose programming," NSC Student Body President Ryan Crowell told more than 50 students at the rally. "We'll lose the college atmosphere here."

    Student leaders at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas plan to conduct a similar petition drive at a noon rally today that will feature several speakers, including state Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, and Faculty Senate President Bryan Spangelo.

    The petition that students signed Wednesday at the college, which were addressed to Gov. Jim Gibbons, pleaded with the governor to "consider our interests" before he makes a formal decision to cut the university system budget.

    Gibbons has asked the university system to come up with a plan to cut its budget by 8 percent because of expected state revenue shortfalls. University system Chancellor Jim Rogers has refused to do so.

    The student petition also asks for "multiple open forums throughout the state" for students to voice opinions on the proposed cuts.

    During a Board of Regents meeting Friday, Rogers and several regents expressed dismay over the silence of students about the possible cuts, which they said would result in larger class sizes, fewer available classes and construction project delays.

    Crowell said the comments during the meeting had helped spur him and the student body presidents of the state's six other colleges to take action.

    NSC, the state's newest and smallest college, could be one of those hardest hit by the potential cuts.

    The fledgling school has a meager budget compared to its counterparts and owns no buildings. Most of its classes are being taught in an old vitamin factory on Nevada State Drive or in leased office space in downtown Henderson.

    Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0440.



    Leave Your Comment 7 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Shannon wrote on April 11, 2008 04:14 PM: Well, the best way to prevent cuts is to apply yourself to other things that will help the school. Since I am going to be attending college soon, I would look for ways to help as i already did and start school grants. There are actually some good one right now .


    In disbelief wrote on December 06, 2007 08:31 PM: No faculty, staff, students or the community should blindly sign a nonsense petition or rally against a sensible request from a governor for the wasteful budget cut. We got a problem Chancellor that either tries to buy influence, or provocate students to protest. It is time for critical thinking and problem solving. The very problem, as Clear Mind articulated, might just be the higher education leaders, NOT our governor. Painting anyone in the way of waste "anti-education" is not convincing a 5th grader.


    Stop building at UNLV wrote on December 06, 2007 02:50 PM: I am an UNLV student. I for one, will not be manipulated by those baseless petitions. I will not follow Dina Titus to sign something that she though would make her a governer, even if I voted for her. Using this opportunity to paint Gibbons green as Grinch is poor taste, and she will certainly not get my vote again.

    Like Bob Beers said, it's cutting from the exaggerated increase that they proposed. Don't provoke and manipulate us students on this issue. Stop building any more buildings that I pay $170 semester after semester but will not get to use. Leave some parking space. I pay for parking too, but can never find a space. I don't know about Gibbons as governor, but I know UNLV or other NSHE colleges have not budgeted well, and have no right to harass the governor's reasonable request and who I didn't even vote for.


    Virgina wrote on December 06, 2007 02:41 PM: John, well put! I am asking, are those truly educators that want our kids to fight for their insatiable appetitie for wasteful spending? NSC and UNLV administrators, stop manipulate our children. Exactly like "Clear Mind" pointed out, we public balk at the tax increase, we also will not allow you to use our children to serve your selfish purpose. Did you think about our children when you increased their tuition? Why are you thinking of them now?

    Great job on the new blog. Guys! Welcome back. You are the tribune of tax payers, in addition to being guard against racism and sexism that Nevadans need as much as they need a hole in their head.


    John wrote on December 06, 2007 11:49 AM: Enrollment is down in the system yet they still want more money. Get real people, you don't throw a ton of money at a sinking ship.


    Clear Mind wrote on December 06, 2007 10:08 AM: Revived
    Richard Carpenter Watch Blog

    http://www.richard-carpenter-watch.blogspot.com/

    Although the looming budget cut causes concern, let's not lose sight on the real problems that NSHE has. Chancellor Jim Rogers supported a CSN ex-president Richard Carpenter who and whose minions have done everything they can to take from the state. Rogers even participated in the salary bid for Carpenter by offering to throw away $320K to the problematic Richard Carpenter, after the Nevada AG's raid of CSN campus in June 2007. Good Houston outbid by $5000. But now Richard Carpenter's lead NHMCCD already received First Amendment Lawsuit by blocking the watchdog blog: CSN Richard Carpenter Watch. NHMCCD quickly responded by lifting the ban, yet CSN continues its violation of First Amendment Rights.

    The financial situation at CSN is dire. But one has to question how dire given other expenses made, ie, Bob Gilbert's ranch and huge raise from Carpenter AFTER Bob's office was raided by AG and BEFORE Bob went on paid leave; Carpenter's 35-million contract to Collegis without bid, and lavishing campus lawyers with extensive office remodeling, and CSN's high priced VPs and some are hardly seen on campus.

    This is why the public balks at tax increases. The bogus expenses need to be stopped. Jim Rogers' condoning Carpenter and cronies behaviors play a huge role in the budget crisis. Do not let him shift focus from the real issues.


    Bobby V. Luker wrote on December 06, 2007 04:04 AM: Dump Rogers and 90% of those problems willgo away