Budget Again Appears Uncertain

.. \ .. Vol. V, No.4 The Monthly Newsmagazine of Boise State University Boise, Idaho Budget again appears uncertain With the opening of the 1980 legisla to surrounding states. Second is $148,400 ture less than a month away, one key for merit increases. state budget analyst is predicting The remainder of the "new" money list another uncertain year for universities includes. plant outlay, new faculty in and other state agencies. interdisciplinary studies and data pro John Andreason, the legislature's cessing, an accountant for the budget chief fiscal officer, said this week the office, and support funds in academic and problems facing the legislature are even service areas. greater than last year. "Double digit inflation coupled with the one percent situation and a possible downturn in the economy create a diffi Two teachers cult fiscal atmosphere already," Andrea son noted. He also sounded a warning that cuts in leave BSU higher education this year could have more serious consequences than they did Fears that some of Boise State's best last year. teachers would leave in the wake of "If the legislature takes the same budget cuts came true this week with action as last year, higher education will the departure of two BSU professors. have to cut on-going programs," he ex Jim Applegate, chairman of the plained. geology-geophysics department, and On the positive side, Andreason said Roger Bedard, theatre arts, both said there is a "lot of talk" about funding uncertainty over the school's future, higher education better this year. higher salaries and a chance for profes In January Boise State will ask the sional growth were the main reasons for legislature to appropriate $20,367,200 leaving. for Fiscal 1981, a 12.8 percent increase Applegate, who has been a leader in over the current operating budget. state geothermal research and seismic Of that, nearly $1.8 million is for studies, came here in 1973. "maintenance of current operations," or ' "Uncertainty over where we are going the amount needed to keep up with infla is part of it. We still have the potential to tion and other price increases. grow, but instead of prospering in the BSU will also ask the state for next 4-5 years, it will tll;ke us that long to $523,900 to fund other requests. At the have another upturn." top of that list is $151,600 to bring Applegate will leave in January to faculty salaries up to a level comparable [Continuedon page 2) Classroom building rated high PARKING Boise State's proposed arts and humanities classroom building cleared an important hurdle this month when the Permanent Building Fund Advisory ON Council ranked it third on the list of projects it will recommend to the 1980 legislature. The building was rated behind $600,000 to bring state buildings in com pliance with life safety codes and $1.2 million for new prison facilities. The Advisory Council recommended nearly $5.6 million for new building projects next year. BSU is asking for $2.5 million this year and another $2.5 million next year to build the classrooms that will house theatre arts, music, and communication. The arts and humanities building will be part of the Morrison Center, which will also include a performing arts theatre built from private donations. Boise State's request for $2.5 million in Fiscal 1981 now goes to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee in the legislature, where bearings are Old Glory supplants Christmas decor in BSU student window as the call for scheduled for Jan. 9. U.S. flag-flying unity is heard in the campus dormitories. Architects 'programming' Morrison· Center Architectural designs for the Morrison unless you have all the information," he new design for jail cells that cut costs use of natura) light. Center will be ready by spring, accord said. ·because it eliminated most steel bars and The firm plans to devote a great deal ing to Ernie Lombard, president of Lom�ard said programming is differ reduced the space needed to guard of time to energy-saving designs for the Lombard-Conrad Architects. ent from the traditional "wish list" that prisoners. Mor1:ison Center, he added. But before drawings are started, the many archi�ts use because the client One early challenge will be to include Lombard-Conrad Architects have also firm must go through the "program and architect agree on what the building the building on BSU's present heating designed buildings for Citizens National ming" phase of the project, a phase that should accomplish before designing system, which is now at capacity.Lom Bank, Idaho National Guard, Idaho First Lombardsaid is critical to the success of begins. bard thinks the Morrison Center can be National Bank, and a vo-tech building at the building. heated with existing boilers if other The two largest projects in the seven Boise State. During the next two months archi can year history of Lombard-Conrad Archi buildings on campus reduce energy tects will meet with Boise State and Energy conservation has always been tects are the Ada County-Boise City consumption. community representatives to discuss an important factor in their designs, Public Safety Building and the state "We've got a tough job, but we are goals, facts, concepts, needs, and prob added Lombard. office tower that recently opened in the going to get it done. It will require a lems connected with the proposed $10-11 "Automobile manufacturers in the last Capitol Mall. precise job of programming to determine million building. few years have come up with new ways exactly what our needs are and tli.en Once those are determined from a In both cases, the firm used some of thinking. The building industry is , to design a building to fit the budget." 132 step checklist, then Lombard said unique design concepts to save money behind them ...we haven't sat down Lombardsaid. the flrm will put a)) the pieces into a and speed construction time. like Genera) Motors and re-thought our· Once programming is finished, Lom design. The public safety building has won designs with energy in mind," he said. bard will tour several other performing "We spend more time in programming several awards and drawn visiting archi Lombard said lighting costs and arts centers and classroom buildings and than most fll'ms.You can't know the tects from as far away as South America. energy consumption were cut in half in OD answer to an architectural problem Ls>mbard said the building features a the new state office building through the [Continued JNIP Z] " The changing face of the '70's Aerial photographs from the Sev.: enties reveal the changing· face of Boise State, from early '70 (right) to 72 (far right). to '78 (below). Student research groUp organizing .at BSU A student group that can research cation must approve the fee hike. it. Funds will be allocated, staff hired, "This is one way to get involved, a public issues in Idaho will be established To protect minority rights, the fee will and research priorities set by a student way to bring about change. As students, on the Boise State campus this spring if be refunded to students who request it. Board of Directors elected by fee-paying we have strong ideals and the energy it organizers are successful. If more than half want their money back, students. takes to care about social issues. A PIRG Called a Public Interest Research the PIRG will disband, said Irwin. Interest on campus seems to be high, provides a practical focus for those Group (PIRG), the Idaho organization The student fee is necessary, he Irwin said. About 200 students have ideas," he said. 175 will be similar to those found on added, so the PIRG can hire a full time agreed to participate in the petition PIRGs have been encouraged by con 30 other capuses in states. Most of the professional who will manage the organi drive when it gets underway in January. sumer advocate Ralph Nader, who PIRGs work with iss"ues such as environ zation. The professional is essential to "Almost everyone we contact seems met with students about the organiza mental preservation, consumer protec give the PIRG continuity, something excited ... there has been little negative tion during his visit to Boise State in tion, and political reform. that has been the downfall of other feedback so far," he said. October. Bob Irwin, a marketing student who is student activist groups. Irwin added that once the PIRG is Once the group is established here, chairman of the organizing committee at The Idaho PIRG will be directly established, it can provide an important organizers hope it can be expanded to Boise State, said it is too early to tell accountable to the students who support. training ground for students. other campuses in Idaho. what issues might interest the Idaho PIRG, and that those will be decided later by an elected board of directors. PIRGs in other states have lobbied for BSU legislation, published consumer guides, Graduates successful in job search organized media campaigns and pub The job market for Boise State to the report, graduates in reported good results. lished guides to government. Uni According versity graduates has improved, but Of BSU's academic schools, graduates Before the PIRG can be established at nursing, management, accounting, busi · more alumni than ever before left the from arts and sciences had the hardest Boise State, organizers must go through ness administration, social work, and state to find work last year, according to communication had the easiest time find time finding work.

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