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TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012
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UC official acknowledges likelihood of tuition increases E r i c G a m b oa
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
During a special budget teleconference held Jan. 11, top UC official Patrick Lenz revealed that the university does not envision any end to tuition increases in the near future. Lenz, who serves as the UC vice president of budget and capital resources, noted that the “administration does have a desire for affordability with modest, predictable and affordable tuition increases.” Lenz also discussed the impact of trigger cuts, trade-off options faced by the UC and elaborated upon Governor Brown’s proposed budget. When asked by a teleconference caller about the nature of the aforementioned tuition increases, Lenz explained that the rates would likely range between 3 to 5 percent increases. A majority of the conversation was focused on the future of state funding and the sort of decisions that the university would have to make under different funding scenarios. Governor Brown’s revenue initiative, which seeks to establish a 4 percent base budget growth for the university,
includes such changes as a .5 percent sales tax increase and an increase in tax rates on the highest income Californians. The numerous initiatives are aimed to generate $6.9 billion in new revenue for the state’s general fund. However, Lenz noted that if November’s ballot initiative does not pass, then the budget would entail a $5.4 billion mid-year budget “trigger” reduction. Under this scenario the UC would lose $200 million in funding from the state. Meanwhile, Lenz also discussed the long-term plans and goals of the university in the midst of the ongoing financial crisis. Lenz stated that the administration was seeking to improve graduation rates and the time to completion, increase transfer students, streamline teaching workloads and provide additional emphasis on community college transfer students. Changes to the Cal Grant program were also outlined. The GPA requirements of the program will be increased as follows: Cal Grant GPA requirements from the A, B and C programs (community college transfers) would increase
ASUCR update
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from 3.0 to 3.25, 2.0 to 2.75 and 2.4 to 2.75, respectively. Furthermore, the award amount for students attending private, for-profit schools would be lowered to $4,000. One caller asked Lenz
E r i c G a m b oa
Andie Lam CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ASUCR CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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tuition, and unfortunately we have had to do that over the past few years…and then we could take 200 million dollars and cut the university by that amount,” stated Lenz. “We TUITION CONT’D ON PAGE 2
UCR entomologist tackles Rwanda’s agricultural pest
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
A discussion of ASUCR’s “Taking a Stand” agenda and an apology regarding December’s protest guidelines dominated the content of ASUCR’s first senate meeting of the quarter. Jim Sandoval, vice chancellor for student affairs, began the meeting by issuing a formal apology and taking full responsibility for the protest guidelines that were published and subsequently removed after gaining widespread criticism. The major source of controversy stemmed from a requirement that students consult with the university prior to implementing a protest—thereby imposing a prior restraint on speech while virtually banning spontaneous protests. “I deeply regret that the draft guidelines were published and I would like to issue a formal apol-
to elaborate on which areas would be impacted if the $200 million mid-year trigger cut were to occur. “We do have three options: one, we can go out and increase our philanthropy…look at
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S a n dy V a n CONTRIBUTING WRITER
UC Riverside Entomology Professor and Jefferson Science Fellow Thomas Miller has ventured to Rwanda in order to investigate the defects resulting in a “potato-tasting” coffee plant. This peculiar deficiency is thus far sourced to the Antestia bug, whose activity is hindering Rwanda’s exports on the international frontier. Scientists from both the US and Europe have been sent to Rwanda through an international non-profit organization, Global Initiative Knowledge (GKI), which sponsors the Learning and Innovation for Network for Knowledge and Solutions (LINK) Program–currently funding
Miller’s research in Rwanda. Antestia bugs, a genus of the shield bug, commonly attack coffee cherries as they feed. The consequence of their feeding is an unwanted “potato taste” left behind on the coffee beans, although the link has yet to be scientifically proven. “The main problem with potato taste is that it shows up after roasting and during tasting. By then it is way too late to weed out the few beans that seem to be the source of the taste and odor among hundreds of beans,” explained Miller in an interview with the Highlander. Miller further elaborated that the occurrence of potato taste can ruin an entire shipment of coffee beans, resulting in the disposal of the entire load and inflicting hundreds of thousands worth of RWANDA CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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THIS WEEK’S EVENTS WED 1/18
UC Regents Meeting All Day HUB
“Taking a Stand” Rally 7:30am Bell Tower
Owen 7:30pm - 10:00pm The Barn
THUR 1/19
UC Regents Meeting All Day HUB
SAT 1/21
Women’s Basketball vs Cal State Fullerton 5:00pm - 7:00pm Student Rec Center
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Volume 60
Issue 13