Spring Break
No taxation without representation
J. David McSwane
Issue date: 2/9/09 Section: Opinion
As long as I've been here, the administration and Board of Governors of the CSU system has had a penchant for underestimating its students.
And it always hurts them where it counts -- image. If for only that reason, the BOG should endorse the current proposal to the state legislature to allow the student government president a vote on the board.
Remember, in spring 2007, when former CSU President Larry Penley snuck a last minute amendment into the Long Bill -- the state budget -- that would have effectively increased tuition by about $1,200 per in-state student in one year? I sure do.
The legislative affairs director of ASCSU found it and alerted student leaders; the Collegian ran a searing, critical editorial the next day; and Penley received a public butt whooping.
His defense: "I only wanted to increase our spending authority allowed by the state. That is not a tuition increase." And he didn't need to alert students because, well, we're dumb and we don't understand the mounting and now much more dire budget constrictions.
But students didn't fall for that. We knew an increase in spending authority would directly translate to a tuition increase, which is the only immediate and viable budget solution for CSU. The jig was up.
Despite poignant criticism from student leaders, the state legislature and Gov. Bill Ritter, Penley kept his job, which led many to believe the BOG either sponsored or condoned Penley's fast-and-loose politics.
Many say that was the beginning of the end for Penley -- at least that's when several bright students in the Associated Students of CSU, a couple of rogue professors and I started paying attention. And a bevy of other controversial stories would emerge involving Penley and his top-loaded administration, for which the BOG was ultimately liable.
Penley resigned abruptly last semester with a less-than-popular reputation, and the BOG paid him off handsomely and promised to never tell its public what happened (I think we can assume one who resigns mid-semester for personal reasons -- a nullifying breach of his contract -- didn't leave on good terms).
And it always hurts them where it counts -- image. If for only that reason, the BOG should endorse the current proposal to the state legislature to allow the student government president a vote on the board.
Remember, in spring 2007, when former CSU President Larry Penley snuck a last minute amendment into the Long Bill -- the state budget -- that would have effectively increased tuition by about $1,200 per in-state student in one year? I sure do.
The legislative affairs director of ASCSU found it and alerted student leaders; the Collegian ran a searing, critical editorial the next day; and Penley received a public butt whooping.
His defense: "I only wanted to increase our spending authority allowed by the state. That is not a tuition increase." And he didn't need to alert students because, well, we're dumb and we don't understand the mounting and now much more dire budget constrictions.
But students didn't fall for that. We knew an increase in spending authority would directly translate to a tuition increase, which is the only immediate and viable budget solution for CSU. The jig was up.
Despite poignant criticism from student leaders, the state legislature and Gov. Bill Ritter, Penley kept his job, which led many to believe the BOG either sponsored or condoned Penley's fast-and-loose politics.
Many say that was the beginning of the end for Penley -- at least that's when several bright students in the Associated Students of CSU, a couple of rogue professors and I started paying attention. And a bevy of other controversial stories would emerge involving Penley and his top-loaded administration, for which the BOG was ultimately liable.
Penley resigned abruptly last semester with a less-than-popular reputation, and the BOG paid him off handsomely and promised to never tell its public what happened (I think we can assume one who resigns mid-semester for personal reasons -- a nullifying breach of his contract -- didn't leave on good terms).
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Patrick Henry
posted 2/09/09 @ 9:58 AM MST
Tuition isn't a tax. It's something you freely elect to pay at a school you freely elect to attend.
If you really want to be taken seriously, come up with a realistic, achievable way to help CSU raise revenue without shifting the entire burden to the entire taxpaying public. (Continued…)
Peace Love
posted 2/10/09 @ 7:30 AM MST
No college education unless you have a Job and pay your own way!!!
You can spell the word job, now can't ya?
Oh, and lets ban the word "penchant", please. (Continued…)
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 2/11/09 @ 10:55 PM MST
Students should run the school Mr. McSwane?
And the inmates should run the asylum. After all we saw how well you your self handled just the responsibility and trust placed in you for just a student newspaper. (Continued…)
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