tl20030828-000 "Baltimore's #1 College Paper - Published Twice-Weekly - www.thetowerlight.com Thursday, 8/28/03 Renovations to Center continue 5 Class in session over diversity 11 Tiger Band rolls out sounds, steps 19 Veepers' sequel less than creepy 2o Departments Opinion 2 News 5 Campus briefs 7 Police Blotter 8 Nation 8 Arts 19 He Says She Says 21 Food 24 Classifieds 25 Sports 27 In this Corner 32 State cuts impact Fall tuition Tuition at University System of Maryland schools increases average 13 percent over last year; Cost of higher education in state rising Sarah Breitenbach The Towerlight Early this summer, students study-ing at the University System of Maryland's 13 institutions may have been surprised by what they received in the mail. Instead of a bill for the Fall semes-ter, students received a letter from the USM explaining that tuition could not be charged. At the time, the USM had not yet determined how to make up for cuts to the system resulting from this year's state budget shortfall, and nec-essary tuition hikes had not yet been cleared. Eventually, the bills�new increases included�made their way to through the mail. Now, with classes back in session, students are bracing themselves for future increases as tuition continues to rise at public institutions across the country. Last year, the Board of Regents raised student tuition within the USM for the Fall semester by an aver-age of 13 percent over the previous year's rates. The move came after a slash to the state's 2004 fiscal year budget left the System with only $57.8 million in state-supported revenue, a decline of $13.5. At Towson, tuition for in-state full-time students increased 13.4 percent, or $534 more than last fall, while out-of- state students owed 7.6 percent in increases, or $886. Senior vice presi-dent and chief fiscal officer David Harnage explained that out-of-state students pay more because they are expected to pay the full cost of tuition. ""We don't receive money from the state of Maryland for out-of-state enrollment,"" Harnage said. ""The combination of the increases [was] calculated to generate the revenue [that was needed]."" In June, leaders of the System's institutions met to debate how to compensate for the shortfall, evaluat-ing the impact of personnel cuts and tuition increases that would be passed on to students. In the end, seven of the 13 presi-dents agreed that the $50 million in reductions should be distributed pro-portionally among the institutions. In a letter to the University com-munity in July, Harnage explained Towson's specific goals considered in combating the reduced budget. These principles include protecting academ-ic programs, minimizing critical services, deferring equipment purchases, and when possible, protecting jobs and limiting tuition increases. The explained letter that impact on before the cuts were even announced. The letter also stated that the University is holding five fac-ulty positions, abolishing 12 graduate assist-antships in Student Affairs and reducing expenditures for ""contingent staff that provided academics and admin- See TUITION, page 13 A slash to the state's budget left the System with only $57.8 million in state-supported revenue. because the University had planned for future budget cuts, officials were able to eliminate 43 vacant positions Lightning strike sends sirens to hospital Saul Staagenka/Tha Towerlight Lightning from a storm yesterday evening struck the roof of the central building of the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital complex at around 7:30 p.m., causing a four-alarm fire. Justin Schumer, a firefighter with the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Department, said more than 35 trucks from as far as Owings Mills and White Marsh responded to the call. No one was injured in the fire at the 322-bed psychiatric hospital adjacent to Towson University, although approximately 75 adult patients were evacuated from the building. The trucks left the scene shortly after midnight. Mary Andrulewicz, vice president of Sheppard Pratt, arrived at the scene and spoke to the press. ""I'm here to ensure the safety of our patients,"" she said. Today High Low 87 70 ft Friday High Low 93 71 Saturday r`P,'N-4 High 85 Low 68 Sunday High 83 Low 66 Monday High 80 Low 62 t'e�a"".1.� 1;i1;711\ p "
