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Administration
As the university was struggling
through the worst budget crisis
since the depression.
Richard Gibb was
SpeaRin~on the issues
Budget cuts, in-state tuition, fee increases
and limited enrollments
were dreaded by students and
faculty alike, and as the economy CODtinued
to worsen, the issues were attracting
more attention and sparking
more controversy.
During first semester, the Gem 0/ the
Mountains discussed these and other
issues with Richard Gibb, UI president.
Gibb's opinions and ideas ale quoted
below:
Budget cuts
'The only other time in the history of
this institution where budget problems
were as great or greater was during the
depression of the 1930'1. Nothing else
comes close. Everything revolves around
our ability to get money. so I spend an
awful lot of time working with
legislators.
"During the last four years we've cut
252 positions. We don't he,ve the equipment
we need.. We have too many
classes with 100·200 students in them.
"It is inevitable that our budget
problems will decrease. We'll always
have them. but not of this magnitude. I
look forward to the time they aren't quite
this great. I wish I could look at adding
instead of cutting."
Fee inaea.re.r
"I don't look forward to fee increases
and telling students we're going to have
a fee increase. I don't like that. I may
recommend it if I think the altemative is
worse, like the reduction in quality,
limited enrollments or what ever. But I
don't like it."
In·state tuWon
"I'd rather not have it, but I'm much
closer to supporting it now than I have
ever been in the past. If I am utterly convinced
the only way I can protect the
quality is through tuition I'd have to do
it, because the altemative is worse. I am
aware of the possibility of imposing instate
tuition, and lowering the state appropriation.
I don't think that would happen,
but we would have to have some
safeguards. Realistically, as we look
down the road, I doubt if we can depend
upon the state to give us enough money
to do well, all the things we ought to be
doing. So, whUe I am still not ready to
endorse it, I am much closer than I have
ever been before."
Limited enrollment
"I don't like the idea theoretically but
again, I guess I'd rather educate 90 well
than 100 not very well, that's my first
choice, but if finally the money just isn't
there, we're going to have to match the
money with the number of students we
can handle. Realistically, I think we are
going to be looking at limiting
enrollments at this institution, and I don't
want to do it."
Core Cuniculwn
"A great step forward. We don't have
it implemented yet, but that is going to
result in better education at the univer·
sity. We should have had a core
curriculum a long time ago in my
opinion."
East EndAddiUon
"A marvelous facUity. I'm sorry about
all the controversy. I'm sorry it
developed the way it did in terms of the
final decision to go was in June when the
students were gone. Our bond council
Thomas "U. o.cm
Education
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86 Deans-Directors/Issues