However, UH-Clear Lake administrators' initial idea to compensate for the budget cut is to pass the buck on to students by cutting summer school classes in half and, of course, to raise tuition and fees.

While this proposed idea is exactly what the governor has stated should be a last resort, an exception can be approved through the Governor's Office of Budget, Planning and Policy and Legislative Budget Board.

UH-Clear Lake has a mission statement that claims its primary role is to provide learning opportunities to graduate and undergraduate students. The proposed plan obviously disregards the best interests of the students.

If summer classes are cut, revenue from student enrollment is reduced, causing possible job cuts in the long run, therefore, creating a domino effect.

The threat of a budget cut has been anticipated - but not until 2004. The 2003 school year stared in Sept. 2002 and now, five months later, the state is asking for its money back! While the current financial fiasco is fault the of the state, not the university, UH-Clear Lake administrators are now charged with the responsiblity to clean up the mess in the best interest of the students.

Voice your opinion on the 2003 mandated budget cut. Write the governor. Write to your state representative. Contact the Student Government Association. Write a letter to the editor and send it to the UHCLIDIAN at: Faculty Box 456 or e-mail it to UHCLIDIAN@cl.uh.edu.

Top of Page | Front Page