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UNLV students protest about proposed budget cuts outside the Grant Sawyer Building Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, after staging a campus walkout.
Published Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 | 12:37 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 | 5:27 p.m.
Raw video of rally
Cloudy skies and a chilly drizzle did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the estimated 700 UNLV students who turned out for a campus rally today to protest proposed budget cuts to higher education.
Organizers of the rally had urged students to walk out of class at 10 a.m. to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with Gov. Jim Gibbons’ proposed budget, which calls for steep reductions in funding for both higher education and K-12 schools.
John Goldman, the university’s campus life director, told the students they needed to take the proposed cuts personally. He urged them to write letters to lawmakers and tell them exactly how a hike in student fees, or requiring faculty to take an additional five furlough days per month – both possible scenarios – would affect them.
The rally participants, many holding signs and banners, piled into two chartered buses for the 15-minute trip to the Sawyer Building, where the protest was carried over to the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee meeting. Other students followed in their own vehicles.
The turnout was impressive, said UNLV President Neal Smatresk, who stood in the crowd with university system Chancellor Dan Klaich and James Dean Leavitt, chairman of the Board of Regents. Students gathered around Smatresk and posed for pictures, many snapped with cell phones.
“It means a lot, you being here,” one young woman told Smatresk. “You’re like the head of the whole place.”
Smatresk shook her hand, telling her, “You’re being here means even more.”
There were some faculty members scattered in the crowd, as well, including John Naccarato, an associate affiliate professor of journalism at UNLV, who said he supported his students’ decision to skip class today. Naccarato said he was a student at Kent State University, the site of a Vietman War protest that turned deadly when National Guardsmen fired on the crowd.
“This is my first protest since 1970,” Naccarato said. “That’s how important this is.”
The best way for the people to excercise their discontent and power is in the voting booth. Next time around we will vote this clown out of office. In the meantime rallies will do nothing except raise your blood pressure, and expose you to the elements..
You've got to be kidding environprotector! Have you seen what's been voted into office over the past ten years? Our government is a JOKE! They are all about lining their pockets at the people's expense. Look at Congress for goodness sake. Do they care about the welfare of the people? No, they are more interested in political posturing. Look at the state legislature. It's a bunch of uneducated dummies wandering in circles with their thumbs in their nether regions. Look at the average voter ... they haven't a clue about thoughtful analysis, just knee jerk reaction. We're in the midst of the fall of the American empire and the politicians led the way.
The People get the government that they deserve. We elected the SOBs.
You do not cut cost on schools,I thought the United States is above this,Education is everything to the world.United State is the leader of education.I feel they should go back to there office and rethink what they are doing.
It just shows that students do not understand business and how the United States works. But Hitler was a great Austrian, that took over Education and the Air Waves and promised them the promise land. I think that the tuition should be raised more so that the students can have their classes and professor's then.
Wolf85023 I wish USA was a leader in education - http://newsbird.wordpress.com/2009/09/08.... Unfortunately for such a rich country, the education system in this country is fairly poor. Personally I wouldn't do a Master's Degree at UNLV. The quality of education there isn't that great and obviously cutting funds isn't going to help ...
If one wanted to keep a population uninformed and subservient, the first thing that has to be done is reduce the education system to rubble. In history and in some countries, professors and educated leaders disappear and may never be seen again. Books are quietly removed from access. Classes are discontinued or outright forbidden. People are told how to think (and vote). The second thing is to outlaw free speech. The third thing is to prohibit assembly. Let's see, Gibbons wants to dismantle the education system, he told us how to think last night, we ought to expect him to bark about someone disagreeing with his speech, and next he will be whining about student demonstrations. Expect him to restrict the legislature to the things he will allow them to discuss. Any body take history classes in school? What comes next?
the article is solely about tuition, university departments and services are impacted which will affect the students directly.
http://www.writeonnevada.com/2010/02/it-...
Remember last year? Jim Rogers claimed tuition would increase by 225 percent if the then-proposed budget cuts were implemented. That never happened. The claim was a strategy to tick off students, and it seems the latest round of doomsday scenarios was ripped right out of Rogers' playbook.
They look more like class skippers then protesters.
HAR HAR HAR.
Snotnosed kids PWNED.
WAY TO GO KIDS! Seems like you're the only ones in this state that have a conscience and a voice of protest.
Too bad the Medicaid victims of this budget holocaust can't protest. They're going to lose their eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, incontinent pads, and anaesthesia.
At least Big Gambling and Big Mining is safe.
Sos89123 :
I don't disagree with your opinions here, In fact I believe in everything you are saying, however this rally is a waste of time. The effort should be put into getting people to vote thoughtfully and carefully. When we get the proper leaders in place, then change can be effected.
So, Gibbons is slicing away at those who can least defend themselves, those most in need, the elderly, the young kids in school, the underprivileged, the poor, and the helpless. That is democracy in action for ya!! Way to go big brave gov!!!
"So, Gibbons is slicing away at those who can least defend themselves"
Gibbons can't cut one dime of the money.
Only the legislature can cut the money that goes to the Board of Regents and the Board of Regents gets to decide how the money is divided and spent.
So you should direct your anger at the Democratic control Legislature.
Demand them to raise taxes by the billions.
your right mycroft6. They are just pikers compared to the 60s. Hundreds of protesters?
Should hav been thousands on an important issue like this.
When I first saw the photograph at the top of this discussion, I thought it was just another Tea Party rally.
But after trying to read the misspelled signs, I discovered it was a group of high school dropouts...
The university is just using students. Sadly students aren't paying so much for their education as they've been paying for nice amenities, big buildings, research they won't learn from, and jobs for adults.
Klaich made suggests of serious budget cuts that he never seriously considered -- he did so to tick off students. That was an irresponsible move right out of the playbook of Jim Rogers.
Sorry kiddies you have got to learn there is no free lunch.
University officials rally hundreds(not thousands) of their students to try and save the officials salaries and expense accounts.
If University officials cared about the students a 15% reduction in salaries and benefits would cover all the cuts.
I have no respect for these students. If your education was important to you, you wouldn't organize a day to skip class. You are going to pay for education one way or another - pay a few years tuition, or pay higher taxes. Get over it.
I also have to add that these students are dumb pawns. If they were smart, they would make a list of things to cut and start a petition for the university to make those cuts instead of raising tuition. As someone mentioned above, petition to cut positions and salaries.
at wizard of oz: youre a freakin bigot ... you are freakin out of touch ... all you dumb old farts stuck in your ways and consistently voting along party lines are a freakin detriment to the children and young people in our community... as a student at unlv im glad im graduating before it gets worse but when kids that bust there ass, go to school, and still hustle a part time job cant get all the classes THEY need to graduate then theres a freakin problem... this is all a waterfall thats gonna get worse ... legislature needs to quit acting delusional and concentrate on what education NEEDS ... we NEED good teachers and we NEED all our prerequisites to graduate ... UNLV and CSN can be wonderful institutions if funds are spent effectively and wisely - the youth has so much more information and material they need to learn then old geezers did in their day and they dont need old farts like wizardofoz slowing them down
Are you kidding me??? Students: W-A-K-E U-P. University presidents and their cadre of (unnecessary) mid-level management could care less about you; they are solely concerned with furthering their own careers and filling their personal pockets with dollars. They are using you as pawns. They don't have your "best interests" in mind. Anymore, universities are run just as corporations.
If you really wanted to protest students, you would turn your back on the university and its emphasis on "credentialism," and show them that you can become self-reliant and self-sufficient. You don;t need to become indentured servants with student loans up to your neck to have a good, meaningful life.
As if universities truly care about the quality of undergraduate education . . . they exploit graduate students and non-tenured-faculty to do the bulk of undergraduate teaching.
Wake up, folks . . .
Glad to see the typical vegas anti-intellectualism out in full force on the vegas sun boards...
There are so many wrong assumptions being portrayed here about what it means to go to college, who goes and how it's funded.
If anyone wants to understand why things like education take a hit first in this state, one need only read the comments section of any article written about them.
The "WHIZ" is out with another loony diatribe:
"What are these cry-baby dumbells whinin' about..?
"This reminds me of the ILLEGAL aliens who demonstrate for their 'rights'...."
Of course, neither of these rants make any sense, nor are they fair to the student protesters; hey, this is part of the American process, right?
They have every RIGHT, perhaps even an obligation to themselves to get out there and be heard. I applaud those @ UNLV who participated in today's walkout. Stand up for what you believe!
Instead of all your moronic grousing about that meany Governor dismantling our education system you should catch up on your government 101, it is the legislature that is being called into a special session to deal with the $881 Million deficit, the Governor's office has suggested ways to reduce the deficit but it's a statewide problem that both the Governor and the Democratically controlled legislature must solve. I suggest you think about what not having enough money to run state government really means! Do you want to have people dying in the streets because there are no state government services to help them or do you want to pat a couple bucks more for your education? I thought students were supposed to be smart.
Hey, Gmag....you should get on your team and get them to demand billions in tax increases.
Go for it!!!
Not really sure what you or the UNLV student's solution to the problem is.
Does the UNLV students want to cut k-12 even more to make up the difference?
The proposed mining tax will only raise about $200 million a year. The deficit is $1 billion.
Silly me....I am asking tough questions.
I live in real world did not have the privilege of skipping class.
If they dont want to go to school, shut it down for a year to save money. Because of ORP there wont be any jobs for them anyway.
PLAN's plan:
Lawmakers must -- shuffle available funds to fill the hole ($150 million one-time as outlined by Speaker Buckley).
Lawmakers must -- eliminate statutory deductions the mining industry uses to avoid paying its fair share. ($150 million annually).
Lawmakers must -- implement a state activity tax of .50 percent on all businesses earning more than $350,000. This will exempt most small businesses in the state (estimated $500 million annually.
Lawmakers must -- cut the remaining $82 million in expenditures with the care of surgeons. We urge no layoffs of state employees or teachers. We support shortening the school year or adding an additional furlough day to achieve this cut.
SgtRock's plan: ...
Last in the Americas - last in education - last in health care - last in so many things. Stop this - do what is needed now - establish a solid financing plan (yes, taxes of some kind on whatever name) AND raise the educational level. Oh, impeach the governor! He is last in the arms of Dawn and last in the hearts of Nevadans.
SHERWIN
I believe half of what I read.
For those naysayers and those calling these students "cry babies" and "pawns" and that they just want to ditch class-- you're all wrong. We organized before and this protest was simply on a larger scale. This was all student-run and organized. This was an action taken by us who feel like our system is failing us. Show me where we are wrong. Nevada is 49th in the nation in high school graduates and our higher system of education is gradually failing. Who cares if we pay less per semester than other schools?! We aren't the University of Spoiled Children. The vast majority of UNLV students are commuter students working (at least) one job, trying to get by in these tough times.
Shame on you for poking your negative comments toward us. If the great governor of Nevada wanted to cut your company's budget by 20%, you'd be a little pissed too. Then, you wouldn't be saying "oh look at these workers, being cry babies and whining." Get lost. This is America and times are tough. We were letting our voices be heard and exercising our rights and freedoms. Our education is a right and a freedom as well and if you choose to keep up the criticism, you might as well be supporting our great governor and his proposed cuts to our future.
I was there. So aim your hate this way, because I know my rights and I know that my education is important to the future of this hell hole state.
These students understand there is no free lunch. The majority of students at UNLV and CSN work either full or part-time while attending classes, serving in internships and volunteering in our community. They are taxpayers, parents, caregivers, teachers and community organizers. These students may one day take care of you or your parent in a hospital or retirement home, teach or counsel your children, or protect your community. Slashing education and denigrating their efforts will only further deteriorate Nevada's social, judicial, and protective services and eliminate any hope of diversifying the local economy.
edgewise...
EXACTLY.
cuts at umc cancer dept.,homeless shelters,the highest foreclosure rate in the country,seniors cant pay for their medicine,kids going to school hungry,,these students must be going into politics,selfish priorities 1a.
What do you expect when you pay your fireman $400,000 a year? Someone has to pay for it.
"It just shows that students do not understand business and how the United States works." Oh I think we get it Braedo...let's see here in LV we sell overpriced, poorly constructed homes to underqualified "but I DESERVE it" buyers and then act surprised and hurt to find our economy tanking when those big ole balloon payments hit Joe the Plumber and Carl the Carpenter who NEVER belonged in a brand new home in the first place. So what do we do? Stick it to the kids. Yeah, we see how business work in the US...it's ALWAYS screw the little guy, right?
The Professors are WAY overpaid. Cutting their salaries would be a good start to balancing things. Most never worked in the private sector in their lifes and don't know how easy they have it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOZxQPqgN...
When Gibbons received preferential treatment when he was accused of assaulting a woman in a parking garage, it should have been a clue.
When he was rumored to be having an affair, it should have been a clue.
When he was accused of taking bribes from a cruise ship operator, it should have been a clue.
When he was found out to have been using a state cell phone to send over 800 text messages in a month to his mistress, it should have been a clue.
When he turned down bail-out money that's helped every other state, it should have been a clue.
Now it's time the people of Nevada got a clue and ask (demand) Gov. Gibbons resign.
And if he still doesn't have a clue and resign, it's time to start impeachment proceedings.
edgewise ...now all you need to is get your pals, the Democrats in the Legislature, to sign a pledge that they will raise $500 million in new taxes on businesses in the state.
Hurry up.....November is just around the corner.
It is important to get Democrats to stand up, have courage and say what they really is the right thing to do.
Go at it!!!!!!
My plan would be to cut, cut, cut plus the monkey games that they will play with moving money around. It is not so complex.
I have a feeling that your Democratic pals are going to vote for my plan this time around.
But you get them to sign a pledge increase taxes by $500 million in the next regular session which is 2011.
Are you sure you just want to raise them by $500 million?
RebelRicky, Your little protest was immature and silly. It won't change anything. It also makes you look unappreciative when you schedule it during class time. So here is a tip - you need to figure out what you-the-students would be okay with cutting and get a petition going for Smatresk to make those cuts instead of increasing tuition. Insist on getting student reps on the budget reduction committees.
You are just fighting the wrong fight with the protest because it won't make a difference. Choose your battles wiser by choosing ones where you can make a difference.
University students protesting about anything is usually such a joke ---IM so proud of My Fellow Nevadans Today
you solve 110 percent of the budget crisis by Immediately ceasing and desisting all government aid to Illegal Immigrants and their children of any age as well, as they are not citizens they like their parents are criminals born of an illegal act
250,000 Las Vegans are out of work. Hundreds of thousands more making much less than they did 2 years ago. Every home owner in the county has seen a massive drop in the value of their assets.
and these spoiled little brats protest? whine people who no longer can pay, still do so?
Hey why don't you kids protest the 2 Wars Change-We-Can-Believe_in is still fighting? and a 3rd he wants to start in Iran. Between that saved money and ending the stupid Shuttle program, just maybe we can keep a sub-par Nevada universities open?
or why don't you hit-up the Casinos for your tuition since your degree is such a "good investment"?
The sheer gall of these people under these conditions is amazing. There are very good reasons your funding has to be cut. There is no "debate" here kiddies.
Young and simple minded trolls looking for more handouts from the system, misguided souls.
If they want an education and their parents didn't put a college fund away for them, then they need to get off their bunger and work for it; they need to quit expecting the taxpayers to pay their education, they need to pay their own way. If they choose to become educated and they earn it, they'll appreciate their education much more and they'll feel good about earning something and more than likely they'll become productive members of society and contribute something for the good of all mankind. I will say that for those who choose to become educated and you see it through, you've earned it, best of luck and more than likely you will successful in your own right, congratulations.
This is what's wrong with most of society today, over the last twenty years the young adults are taught by liberals that they should expect everything for nothing and there is no need for them to work for anything in their life, the system will give it to and we the taxpayers will take care of them. We see this firsthand in the business world and the system shows just that, the high employee turnaround has steadily increased over the past twenty years and they're all looking to make the quick buck, they don't want to work for it and they're sure not in it for the long haul, they change jobs like they do underwear, the world is instant and give me's is over and done with, now deal with it.
I suspect most of the young adults (below 35) have grown up in an environment where they were spoiled rotten and had have no accountability for choices made and yet, they still expect everyone to do it for them. They need to wake up, most of us that are responsible adults don't really care and it's about time they become responsible adults and create their own destiny, after all they're adults and they're suppose to be responsible for their choices, no more diapers, no more nipple, no more blaming. They need to look in the mirror and be honest themselves and accept their choices, life is so much easier and they'll be much happier when they admit they created it, they own it.
Kudos's to cutting the budget, we can't afford the freebie world anymore, it's about time for the world of instant gratification and the career freeloaders to get off the bunger and become responsible adults. If you want it then you best earn it and quit relying on a broken system that hasn't worked and will never work. Quit sucking off the ones who choose to make a better life for their family, they've earned, now it's your turn.
lets see, you cant cut education ,you cant cut money from the unions, you cant cut social programs,mmmmmmmmm i guess we need to raise taxes on the wealthy that will solve all our problems. any body have any ideas on what needs to be done and make everyone happy?
High quality education is Nevada will never be reached because residents do not want it. This is evident with the multiple negative posts on the blog.
Too bad for Nevada...maybe we can build another casino, and the highly educated will flock to NV for the low taxes and cheap cost of living...
or maybe not :)
I wish I was in college again. Raise hell Rebels!
According to the Constitution, education was not listed as a right. Do we need better teachers, or better students. Some of the greatest innovators and businessmen never attended or never completed college so let's have none of this garbage about student failure being the fault of the school or the teachers. Especially in the age of the internet and the vast stores of knowledge that it is connected to. Too many of you whiners would rather spend your time on facebook trying to boost your fragile egos with how many friends you have. The problem with education in this country is the lazy ignorant attitude that a piece of paper signifies that the holder is intelligent and educated. How many of our "intelligent" college grads had their term papers written for them by some kid in Asia while they partied the night away.
We need to get the educators out of education curiculum. They sit insulated in their ivory towers making decisions based on their biases rather than reality. If a kid wants to be a business major, give him business courses pronto. Instead he has to sit through 2 years of liberal arts garbage and other courses deemed by the ivory tower crowd as necessary to a persons development. If I hire an accountant he better be doing the numbers not quoting Shakespeare. Get rid of the useless fluff of the dead arts expenses would be cut, more teachers in the right courses would be hired, kids would graduate sooner with a better grasp of their major.
For a long time we have been hearing we need more engineers, doctors, scientists, mathemeticians, etc. Test scores and student achievement are in the tank. The current suckcretary of educations solution? Lengthen the school day and year so that more music and arts can be taught. I rest my case on the educators being out of touch.
Hey students. Us geezers were your age one time and thought we knew everything just like you. It's time you walked in our shoes to learn what we have learned. You would rather call of stupid greedy old fossils and any advice from us, based on our lifetime of experiences, is treated like a disease.
Seize vacant casinos, and hotels and sell them to the Chinese and use the money to provide free stuff for people.
I have the distinct feeling that many people here would have agreed with Reagan after the 1970 Berkeley protest. "If it takes a bloodbath, let's get it over with."
There is no place for an illegal alien discussion here. Nor is it helpful at all to be belligerent towards the students as if one person could somehow be so amazingly insightful as to be able to judge them all as spoiled, whiny or worthless. What none of you get is that the "spoiled" kids don't have anything to worry about. It's the ones that are poor and struggling to get an education that are most damaged by these actions.
You all act as if there is no merit whatsoever to these legitimate complaints about choosing to reduce funding towards higher education. And that's just absurd. But based on the comments so many of you are so out of touch with things that you can't see how absurd your opinions really are.
I think it was more like 67 people, not hundreds.
lmao, even the ones that protest can't spell and yet they want more from us taxpayers to become educated. To think the "Bujet" or as we could say "Budget" is going to fix lazy little whining babies who want something for nothing.
I for one hope whomever is elected into office realizes that America can't continue spending on programs and education for worthless people as we have been for too many years. It's about time the people become accountable and responsible for their choices and let their earned consequences dictate what occurs in their life. The likes of these young adults is pathetic and I for one could care a less if they live on the streets or pick from some garbage can for the rest of their lives. We're sick and tired of them expecting everything for nothing and blaming society or lack of tax funds to take care of their lazy pathetic life.
Look around at these young adults, they dress goofy, they demand everything and appreciate nothing, they expect instant wealth without earning, they're materialistic little whining cry babies that have no respect for their elders. We don't care anymore and prey that one day America can overcome what the liberals have done to America. Their on a mission to desecrate what we were founded upon and the generation of today is a good example of what is to follow and what is in store for future generations to come.
A good example is Obama and the rest of the liberal party, really sit back and look at what they represent and ask; do I really want this for our kids or grand kids? Do I want this in my home and would I want to see my future generations expect everything for nothing? Do I want my son to marry a ? or ?
Whatever happened to if you work for it and earn it, it is appreciated more. Should you doubt it, ask any lottery winner what happened in their life after winning a crap load of money and how it changed them forever. Most are broke, divorced, some committed suicide, and all will tell you, it didn't make them happier, they became miserable and someone they didn't like. These young adults are no different, they don't deserve a red cent more and I hope and pray the system removes funding from them so they have to work for it and they'll become better people.
People are missing the point of the rally. We didn't rally because we wanted to skip out on class or because we thought it'd be cool or fun. We don't want our education compromised any more than it already has. In fact, many professors encouraged going to the rally. The rally was just as much about those professors as they might be non-tenured, which would mean they'd be the first to go if professors were let go.
Emily,
Touching article. Where was this type of coverage during the Tea Party that came out in larger numbers than this student protest.
It sure is hard to miss a college class.
appleslices,
Do you not know your NSHE? Last year, we DID make a difference. Rallying around to insist our Nevada legislature to reduce the amount of cuts was our goal then. Gibbons proposed a 50% cut then, and because of our letters, emails, phone calls, rallies, etc., we told our legislature what was right. The 50% cut Gibbons proposed was shot down and we settled with a far less cut (which we weren't happy with, but KNEW it was inevitable). This year, enough is enough. We understand times are tough, but how can you expect our state's future to be anything short of bright when students are faced to attend colleges outside Nevada (and thus, failing to bring in more revenue).
It was scheduled during class times to show the university what they'd be missing out on, assuming these proposed cuts are made. Less students in class and less professors (which were in attendance as well) will all come to pass if these cuts are made.
Don't get me wrong, I understand there are more to these proposed cuts than just education. But how can one defend a platform in which the governor is promoting on less education? It doesn't add up. Even as a fiscal conservative, you'd think he'd want to keep the revenue coming in.
I graduate in May after putting 4 years into this system. This isn't directly affecting me. So why am I defending it?? Because I care about the future of this state I've been born and raised in and because I understand and know what it's like to actually WORK my way through school. It's becoming unaffordable to working class students and the nonsense needs to stop. Mind you, this also affects the K-12 system. So your son, daughter, little brother, sister, etc, etc, are all going to pay the price.
Petitioning Smastrek isn't the answer. Why? Because he doesn't deal with the budget. Yes, he's the highest voice in the land at UNLV, but he's trying to keep his fat paycheck along with his cabinet of do-nothings.
For those commenting on the signs: you are absolutely ridiculous. The one sign states "Kut the (backwards e) bujet" which is obviously incorrect on purpose.
Those comparing this too an Obama campaign: What?! Seriously?? This has nothing to do with that. Completely irrelevant and invalid argument. If you were there, you'd understand we were ripping the current United States system as much as the Nevada one.
Not only will these cuts raise tuition, drop classes, delay graduations by at least two semesters, but it will also increase the unemployment numbers. Ironic, isn't it? Coming from a governor who has absolutely NO solution to the real problem and task at hand.
I teach in the Clark County School District. Budget cuts are starting to be a way of life. Teachers are spending more and more time in and out of class trying to find funding for the supplies and resources need to run their programs. Let's keep in mind that when we skimp on resources to educate our future generations, we certainly aren't helping out country to find innovative ways out of these financial messes or out of other problems faced by our citizens. We, almost assuredly run the risk of being outpaced by the students of other countries. Some teachers are taking matters into their own hands when seeking funding to bridge the gaps. For example, here's our school's DonorsChoose.org proposal for some technology needs: http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/propo...
Everyone needs to step up. Before shifting the blame on others, ask yourself if you're ready for a state income tax.
Sorry jack this transitioning Brick and Mortar Economy into a Digital One cannot afford, and really does not need to pay for B&M Universities at the scale they presently exist.
How much of what goes on at UNLV could be done via the internet and closed networks? How many more people could be served with smaller schools and better options? Much be my guess. The trouble is this equates to less need for Professors and massive fixed infrastructure, thus THE problem.
I would submit the very outdated structure we have now is a major contributing factor to why Nevada ranks 49th in education. Stacking more bricks is not the answer.
One has only to look at things like the University of Phoenix to know the present closed system needs to be opened. You do that with diversity of options. Big part of that is the use of Technology, not pouring more money down the very things which is killing the system.
I am sorry some Professors may have to get with the program. But if they look at it as a tremendous opportunity and not a job loss (which it does not have to be), we can blast into this new reality.
If you people are as smart as you claim, where are your solutions? kicking a dead cat (taxpayer), is just kicking a dead cat.
Wow, RebelRicky, you really think that the little protest that you held last year made a difference?! Yes, and you students were also the reason that Smatresk gave out $500k in positions and raises last year: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov...
You don't understand how getting student reps on the budget committees and petitioning for student-chosen cuts will change things? Every time you post, I have less and less respect for how dumb you are.
And it's a "statement" to have fewer people in classes? You should have thought about that one a little harder - smaller class sizes are always desirable for students to receive extra attention from a professor.
Please register to vote THIRD PARTY or NON-PARTISAN.
www.Curtis4governor.com
This "kids are the future" stuff is getting old. Today's kids will not be paying for my social security. They will be in such deep hock with their student loans and credit cards that they will not be in any position to pay for anybody's benefits. My property taxes are killing me here in Calif. so I'm glad there are going to be more colossal cuts to UCLA (and UNLV). College is an evil debt trap. Those videos where people show you their bill from Sallie Mae are scarier than SAW 6.
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/gen...
you student must register and vote. that all there is. must vote democrat
Wow. Name calling. That's intelligence at its finest, isn't it? Here I stand, trying to defend the future of education in this state, and I'm being called "dumb." Impressive.
I'm not an idiot. I realize that smaller classes are easier for professor's to teach, easier for students to learn, and furthermore, creating a better learning environment. However, UNLV isn't one of those schools. By bringing in more students, more revenue is created for the governor's budget. It's simple economics. By having empty classrooms that are meant for larger classes, the university, NSHE, and the governor are all recieving blows to their pockets.
And yes, everything we did last year DID make a difference (http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jan... ). When the state is planning on a 50, then 36, then 25% budget cut only to recieve letters, emails, calls, etc. from its constituents and students begging for less, wasn't in vain. A final decision was on 13%. So you tell me, was all that for nothing?
Did I ever say anything about how I "don't understand how getting student reps on the budget committees and petitioning for student-chosen cuts will change things?" No. I said Smastrek isn't the one dealing with the finances and he loves his money (who wouldn't in his position?!). Why do you think we're organizing?! We're tossing around ideas, making plans, going to town hall meetings, and yes, prostesting. I know they'd love to hear from the students-- why do you think we're doing this?!
So before you go out and insult on a personal scale, check yourself. We're doing our part.
RebelRicky, Here are my opinions. Maybe you aren't dumb, you are ignorant. Higher enrollment does not necessarily correspond to increased money for the university. Do some research on the funding model how the tuition goes to the state and some trickles back to UNLV. Do some research on how nursing and engineering majors cost more to educate than other majors, so more students for the limited tuition dollars that they receive does not result in more money. It's actually a loss. You are naive about the funding situation.
I don't doubt your enthusiasm, but your approach is immature and not working. You have no proof that your little protests and letters changed things last year. University administrators that were fighting to keep their large salaries probably had a bigger impact.
And why are you giving Smatresk an out?! He is the President for the university. IMO, YOU THE STUDENTS should be telling him what to do; not the other way around. Do you really not understand the role that he plays in what gets cut?
So yeah, educate yourself on the issues before jumping up and down like a dumb monkey/pawn.
All this crying and kicking and screaming, yet not one person besides me is asking for impeachment, to hell with November kick him out now.
Students (and everybody else) need to get the facts.
How much do the profs make? What is there benefit package? What are they willing to do to make the budget work.
How does the tuition compare to other schools?
I used to donate money to my alma mater until I realized that they profs made more than me.
The Nutjobs who bash these young people for assembling and protesting undue increases in tuition @UNLV are the same Nutjobs that rant and rave every day about their "constitutional rights". How sad.
I can't believe all the references to "spoiled little kids." We (Nevada and the Nation) need a good University that people want to attend. We need medical facilities. We need infrastructure. And we need to be able to compete both today and in the future. What worries me more than an educated population is an uneducated population. School is "free" until 12th grade. We can't give (tax) everybody a bachelors degree but it's in our best interest to make or keep education affordable. That said, without a tax increase lots of things are going to have to give.
We need a lot of things, but what we really need is financial solvency for all of us, including the education system and all units of government.
Pouring more water into a leaking bucket does not fix anything. Fix the leaks in the bucket and then live within your budget...
Just read some of the postings on various blogs, forums and discussion groups (such as this one)....people don't know when to use THEIR (as in above posting "I think they should go back to THERE office".... and don't get me started on the use of TO, TOO, and TWO.....OMG!! Isn't it obvious are Country as a whole is sorely lacking when it comes to education? That's the LAST place they should be looking to make any cuts to. I don't think it's by accident that the kids you see winning spelling bees, science fairs and math contests, for the most part, seem to be of Indian (not Native) descent. There are many other Countries who value education far more than the USA does....sad, but true.
I work in the state system and now a forced to take a day off each month without pay.
I have to do without because I pay my taxes, I pay for other state and federal programs, I pay for people who are able to work but refuse to work, I pay for people who do no do thing legally and want everything from the state or government.
Education should not be cut, unless it is the program to educate illegal aliens. State/federal aid to to illegal aliens should be cut out completely; welfare, food stamps, medicade.
All programs that support illegal aliens of any kind should be stopped. No green card/visa No support PERIOD.
mlind,
Good Point. I actually take it a step further and think that the extra perks should come once a person becomes a US Citizen.
A permanent resident (green card holder) can lose their U.S. residency by drawing public assistance.
But, since state welfare offices and other public assistance agencies don't notify U.S. Immigration authorities when someone signs up for benefits, they get by with it.
The laws are in place but:
Schools do not notify authorities about illegals.
Hospitals do not notify authorities about illegals.
Welfare Offices do not notify authorities about illegals.
Most Police Departments are not allowed to notify authorities about illegals encountered unless a felony is involved.
Enforce the immigration laws and watch taxes go down...
Larry,
If businesses didn't hire "illegals", they wouldn't come here.
gmager,
You are 100% correct...
Hey azsk8fan......
I like your point, but you ended a sentence with a preposition up there. And don't ask me, "where at?"....ug...did it again.
I do however, agree.