VOLUME 38 Dec. 5, 2005 ree for campus news and information See page 6 Checking in on Gulf Coast students lHECURRENTONUNE.COM ....iiiiiiiiii ...................................... ~ .................... .......................... UN~RSnvOF M~URI -S1 IDU~ Buduet cuts loom -n2001 BY PAUL HACKBARTH versities . and colleges. "A reduction of .......... " .... - --_._._ ... _._-- ...- ...... over $100 million could eliminate the News Editor entire state funding for all of the two­ year institutions or over half of the four­ All higher education institutions in year institutions," Floyd wrote. Missouri, including UM-St Louis, are George said UM-SL Louis has not looking at what possible lO to 12 per­ looked at how budget cuts would affect cent reductions to their budgets could specific departments or faculty, but mean for the 2IJJ7 fiscal year. Floyd outlined that approximately 76 After the Missouri Office of percent of the UM system's budget is Administration requested these scenar­ spent on "personal service expenditures ios, in addition to the Coordinating for our faculty and staff positions." Board for Higher Education's response "A cut of lO Percent to 12 percent for two- and fuur-year institutions, the ($38.9 to $46.7 million) would result in University of Missouri responded, too, a reduction of$29.5 to $35.5 million in with similar results. personal service expenditures. This "We were asked what would a 10 would result in the elimination of 474 to percent reduction in the [UM] budget 568 positions," Floyd wrote. entail and what are the consequences of Jim Krueger, vice chancellor of Adam D. Wiseman! Tbe Cumm that And then a 12 percent [reduction]," Managerial and Technological The AIDS quilt hung in the Millennium Student Center last week. Quilt sections memorialize those who have died of AIDS. Below, Cllance1lor Thomas George said. Services, said since the UM-SL Louis Karen Hubbard, junior, nursing, studies under the memorial, which is the largest AIDS quilt on display in the entire Midwest. "For our campus, if you look in campus receives about 12 percent of terms of what we state appropriations for the UM system, get from the state, 12 percent of UM-St Louis faculty and it's in the OIlier of staff positions could be cut, or approxi­ close to $50 mil­ mately 57 to 68 positions. lion a year," While Floyd expressed concern AIDS at UMSL: George said. He about certain institutions declaring explained a 10 to financial emergencies, George said he 12 percent cut was unsure if a 10 percent reduction would translate to would cause a financial exigency fur the Quilt, posters and activities a $5 or $6 million UMsystem. reduction in the Elson Aoyd The concern steIns from the fact that University's bud­ UM PresIdent all public two- and four-year institutions get "It is a sub­ in Missouri have remained under 2002 shed light on deadly disease stantial reduction state appropriation levels, Krueger if it were to occur," he said. explained. "And on top of that, we get George noted reductions are subject the lowest of all funding for per capita," BY MELISSA McCRARY 200 restaurants and diners participate ir to state appropriations and said the Krueger said. 'There are outy three Features Editor this event each year. "Dining Out FOJ Missouri legislature is unclear about institutions that get a lower amount than Life" began in St Louis in 1994 anc what the actual budget will be for the us and they're not research universi­ since then, has collected over $1.8 mil state next year. ties." Last week, tables, posters, quilts, dis­ lion for AIDS research and education. The Office of Administration's The poSSibility of budget cuts could cussions and guest presentations were AIDS can be spread through sexua requests this year are nothing new. also affect tuition. ''It will not be popu­ held at UM-St. Louis to advocate AIDS contact with an infected person, sharin! George said higher education institu­ lar for students, but one option, if there Awareness Week needles and at birth from a mother, wh( tions were asked for scenarios involving is a cut, is to increase tuition," Krueger Rob Budach, student services coor­ is infected. reductions in bud."oets of up to 25 per­ said. dinator Sald that AIDS Awareness Week According to www.AIDS.org, abou cent last year. The UM system received "For the University of Missouri, a 10 events at UM-St Louis were a continu­ 900,000 people are HIV-positive ant a flat budget last year, but George said to 12 perCent reduction in state support ation of the events going on throughout this is the leading cause of death in thl the University may not be as lucky this would require a tuition increase of 10.5 the city of St Louis. United States. year. to 12.5 percent to cover the reduction in "Events like Dining Out For Life, Courtney Haberer, PRIZM presi UM President Elson Floyd sent a support assuming no decrease in enroll­ tl:wt benefited St Louis Effort for AIDS, dent, was one of the students who par letter dated Nov. 11 to Commissioner of ment," Floyd wrote. arid other St Louis AIDS related events ticipated in some of UM-St. Louis Higher Education Greg Fitch regarding From losing faculty and staff to were brought and publicized at UMSL," week-long activities. the impact of potential cuts. For the tuition increases, George said these pos­ Budach said. "The purpose of the events were t( overall UM system, Floyd stated state SIble consequences are in mind because "Dining Out For Life," a fund-raiser raise awareness ofHIV and AIDS and t( funding reductions could range from "it affects students the most" If the cuts held by numerous St. Louis locally­ remember those sWfering and those tha about $90 million (10 percent) to do actually occur, Krueger said the owned and operated restaurants and the we have lost," she sald. approximately $108 million (12 per­ Budget and Planning Committee bas Saint Louis Effort For AIDS (EPA), col­ cent). developed "realistic and optimistic sce­ lected up to 100 percent of dinner pro­ In the letter, Floyd put the possible narios that advance the items in the ceeds to fund HIV/AIDS services. Over see AIDS AW:ARNEss, page 7 cuts into perspective for Missouri uni- Action Plan." PRIZM's October drag show draws fire from gay Republican BY MIKE SHERWIN Charles Stadtlander, senior, public pus while utilizing student fees and also said he did not find the sho\1 -- EditoT~in-Chief policy, and president of the Log Cabin tax dollars for funding, is appalling." offensive. Republicans of Greater St. Louis, a Coonrod and George responded to ''If anybody wasn't having a gQ()( political group for gay, lesbian and Stadtlander's letter on Oct. 27, stating time it was really hard to tell tha bisexual Republicans, attended the that student fees alone funded the night, because I saw a lot of laugbte A dramatic drag show held on event and Sald he does not object to event, and that attendees could have and smiles," he sald. '1 certainly did campus has stirred up controversy, having a drag show on campus. left if they objected to the show's con­ n't see a lot of people screaming that i and one student sent a letter of griev­ However, he sald, the PRIZM event tenL The response also noted that First was lewd and lascivious and disgust ance to University officials and state was offensive and pornographic and Amendment rights of free speech and ing." legislators. that performers harassed heterosexu­ expression protected the drag show. PRIZM President C()urtne~ On Oct 14, PRIZM, the campus als in the crowd. In November, Stadtlander sent a Haberer said many universities spon organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual Stadtlander voiced his concerns in press reJease to local media outlets, sor drag shows. and transgendered students held its a letter on Oct 26 to Vice Provost of and KTVI Fox 2 and the St. Louis "Drag shows are a big part of thl second annual drag show in honor of Student Activities Curt Coonrod, Post-Dispatch picked up the story. gay culture and the gay community "National Coming Out Day," in the Chancellor Thomas George, KTVI reported that UM Curator By bringing that to campus, I felt i Pilot House. The event, co-sponsored University of Missouri President David Wasinger pledged to investi­ showed that the gay communit. by the Office of Student Life, the Elson Floyd, six state representatives gate the incident. knows how to go out to have fun lik; Student Government Association, and the campus newspaper. Michael Rankins, student services any other community and that it's no Horizons, Residential Life and the Stadtlander wrote, "the level of advisor in the Office of Student Life, a scary thing," she sald. Student Tyler Cross performs at the PRIZM drag show in the University Program Board, drew a vulgarity, indecency, and negligence and one of the drag show organizers, Pilot House on Oct. 14. One student has charged that the show crowd of nearly 250 people to the allowed to take place on the said no one other than Stadtlander had was indecent and a misuse of public funds. Pilot House. University of Missouri-St. Louis cam- complained about the show. Rankins see DRAG SHOW, page 11 INDEX RivefW"omen end Who has See what Hollywood QE/;~ ...._ 4 UMSL's farthest has to offer this winter Features ___ __ 6 five game winning commute? ~ft Entertainment 8 -Crossword_._--.. - Puzzle 13 streak ~ r~i~l!} Helf.._ ___ 13 Page 10 See page 6 See page 8 Page 2 <fI1£.