Hundreds voice concerns over budget cuts

Hundreds of people were lined up this morning, prepared to testify to state legislators about proposed budget cuts.

College students and faculty made up a large part of the crowd.

"I think it's really important that people see how many people in this state are increasing the quality of their education and how important education is going to be in diversifying the state's economy," said Robin Herlands, a biology professor at Nevada State College.

Gov. Brian Sandoval proposed a budget with heavy cuts to education and other social services. He has promised not to raise taxes. He has said the higher education system, in particular, can raise its own money by increasing tuition and fees, which tend to be lower in Nevada than elsewhere.

Legislators scheduled town hall meetings for Saturday in Las Vegas and Reno. There were large crowds at both the Grant Sawyer building in Las Vegas and at the Washoe County Commission chambers in Reno.

The state's higher education leaders have said the governor's proposed cuts -- up to 25 percent of the operating budget if no new revenue comes in -- could lead to pay cuts, layoffs, the elimination of some programs and enrollment caps.

Students already have a hard time getting into classes because past budget cuts have caused administrators to cut the sections offered.

The cuts at UNLV would total $47.5 million, the university's president said. They would total $26.8 million at the College of Southern Nevada, its president said.

"How are we supposed to compete in the global economy if education is cut?" said Edward Okuda, a student at CSN.

J.T. Creedon, CSN's student body president, said cuts to higher education hurt the very people who are already hurting the worst in this economy. He said CSN tends to educate non-traditional students, including minorities and people looking to go back to school to retrain themselves.

Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.

Trending topics:

• Brian Sandoval
• budget
• budget cuts
• education
• Nevada
• town hall
• UNLV

Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. Virgil A. Sestini Feb. 9, 2011 | 1:56 p.m. Report Abuse

   Sandoval’s plan for education pledges “no new taxes” yet he says absolutely nothing about the billions of state dollars that are wasted on illegal, trespassing aliens from south of our borders. What is he going to do to stop the drain of our tax dollars to serve these illegal’s ;non of whom have any legal right being here and for whom there is no legal justification to support them and their continual drain upon our Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, medical facilities like UMC, health care facilities, welfare support services, schools to say nothing of our jail and prisons in this state. He was supported by the Chamber of Commerce who wants open borders and unlimited access to all social services by undocumented workers because of their drive to garner cheaper labor for their supporting members. The COC is trying desperately to kill public employee retirement guarantees, kill public education and force us into becoming a third rate impoverished nation all in the name of greed and big profits. How will Sandoval save the billions going to the Mexico from Nevada? Let us hear of your plan for this Governor! Lead from the front and show us how to really save big dollars before you kill our public education K thru College. Your mantra and motto should be “No More Illegals! Not one dollar more for Illegals.”

2. gary Jan. 31, 2011 | 5:01 p.m. Report Abuse

   Same old mantra from the government education industry. Always clamoring for more money, the end product doesn't justify the monetary outlay of tax dollars. Government educators MUST downsize, and modernize just like private industry has in this nation. There is no other alternative. The tax money doesn't exist anymore.

3. NNVPatriot Jan. 31, 2011 | 8:23 a.m. Report Abuse

   We would be much better off if we sold our schools to companies that would provide real education instead of this nonsense that is passed off as education in Nevada. It costs as much per student to put a kid through Nevada's universities as it does to send them to an ivy league school. We would be better served to contract with a real university to educate our kids, and get rid of this culture of corruption that exists in our education system today.

4. n7v.blogspot.com Jan. 30, 2011 | 2:35 p.m. Report Abuse

   A Nevada professor's job is to TEACH. What is this emphasis on research? Leave it to the government to turn a very simple mission on its head.
   
   We don't need taxpayer supported professors getting evaluated based on how much government grant money they bring in. That's just another way for government employees to work for ... MORE government. If we had a small A&M state university (as was originally intended) existing trust funds would be enough to cover the UNV's costs. We wouldn't need a bunch of derelict academics chasing after research grants -- and the schools skimming >50% off-the-top to pay for their bloated overhead.
   
   We don't need taxpayer supported professors pursuing partnerships with private industry. That's corporatism. Why should company X pay higher taxes to subsidize company Y's possibly competitive commercial research ventures? If Intel wants to buy up a Nevada professor's time (which should be devoted to teaching anyway), let him quit and move to Santa Clara.
   
   No more taxpayer funded research labs. Why should taxpayers be forced to fund someone else's sandbox? Some taxpayers might have other research projects in mind to fund with their own money. Whoever said that some politically connected PhD's experiment is more worthy than yours or mine? What's worse, for those rare instances when academic research actually shows potential, taxpayers are forced to pay yet again for whatever commercial products/patents which result.
   
   My understanding is that at the community college level the entire focus is on teaching. Hey Smatresk, Gluck, etc. Are you listening?

5. enigmaman Jan. 30, 2011 | 10:55 a.m. Report Abuse

   To csteve: Thanks for your informative response which is helpful in putting the severity of the ongoing and projected cuts into context.

6. csteve Jan. 30, 2011 | 9:47 a.m. Report Abuse

   Responding to Enigmaman: I am a UNLV professor. Our workload is comparable to the Air Force Academy schedule you cite. Professors who don't do research teach four classes. This in addition to extensive advising, committee work, etc. The majority of professors are expected to do research and therefore generally teach just three courses, but are expected to use the "extra time" towards research--all evaluations, promotions and merit pay (when there was merit pay) are largely based on this research component. The time and organization needed to do good research-- whether it's writing a book, or partnering with the business community--is much greater than teaching a course. These professors also advise, do committee work, etc. In addition, over the last few years because of budget tightening, these loads have been adjusted. In many cases, what the University used to call two courses are now being considered just one course. So, in effect, many are being paid the same amount (or if you include increased costs of health benefits, and furloughs, we are actually being paid less) for doing more. This is a generic description, there are professors who negotiate other workloads. And, as others have noted, there are good professors and bad professors--you can find examples of people who abuse the system. But most of us give our lives to UNLV and its students. We work constantly and believe in the value of education for Nevada's future.

7. stingray12002 Jan. 30, 2011 | 7:39 a.m. Report Abuse

   Tired of whiny crapstains bashing Bush and organizing "Free Mumia" rallies. Eliminate ALL publicly funded universities. Go to a private university and pay for it yourself.Sick of this "educated workforce" crap. Even if these idiots get a degree in "Lesbian Studies" or whatever how does that help Nevada? Who is to say they are going to even live here after graduation?

8. Amen Jan. 30, 2011 | 12:46 a.m. Report Abuse

   Many young students and, in general, young non-students too - but not all - today are absent rational thought and disconnected from reality. They judge the taxpayer as their benefactors, their mommy and daddy. I know many of these types who do not want to work, who go to school thinking it will give them an easy way out. They are clueless of what it takes to succeed, hard work, and will never amount to much of anything but depressed selves living out their desired fantasies that never come true. They kill time in school pending life's confrontation, thinking they will get a rare break. They want their cake and cheap grace too. The party is over boys and girls, time to grow up and bite the bullet, mommy and daddy are broke and can no longer afford you the life you were or think you are accustomed. Move along students, do not go after that second degree. You knew the first was just a delaying tatic. What makes you think the second is for any other reason other than an excuse and a hope and prayer. The first one brought you nothing and the second will only bring you debt, even more with Mr. Sandoval. Make the connection if you can. Go to work, get some experience in reality and maybe, just maybe your light will shine and from this you take your place in the world of your dreams.

9. Jee.Buss Jan. 30, 2011 | 12:15 a.m. Report Abuse

   We are B-R-O-K-E.
   Time to get a reality check and start making plans.
   We can no longer continue down this path, so unless someone out there can fix the economy pronto, all the bellyaching is just useless wind.

10. Cherokee.Mankiller Jan. 30, 2011 | 12:12 a.m. Report Abuse

    Here's what will sound like a crazy idea at first. Cut all state funding for CSN. That's right, pull every last dime the state sends over. Now, once that is done, let CSN keep all the money it takes in for tuition and fees. The school would then be self-supporting, even turn a profit. Yes, dear readers, CSN as it stand right now, is subsidizing UNLV, and even UNR.

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