tl19711210-000 "tow erligh t Vol. XX IV Towson State College Friday, December 10 Towson, Maryland 21204 Federal government supports education . t6 Members of the Eastern Regional Council of the American Association for Higher Education listened to criticism from outside influences last Saturday. Higher education listens by Mike Dilworth Higher Education Listens was the theme of the Eastern Regional Council of the American Association of Higher Education conference held in the new college center last Saturday from 10 to 3 pm. An estimated 300 area educators, including college presidents, instructors, and students, were joined by state dignitaries and represen-tatives of various professional Pursuits at this invitation for criticism. The convention listened to criticism, ob-servations, and predictions from representatives of government, business, labor, news media, and the minorities. Ralph Nader called for reform in higher education as a consumer item of top priority, and called for improvement in consumer education. Lieutenant Governor Blair Lee discussed financial in-volvement and implications of government in higher learning. Robert Chapman, inudstry expert, related higher education to the business world. Lou Azrael, a columnist for the Baltimore News American spoke of the im-portance of increased com-munication between people in higher education and the public. Dr. John Session, director of the AFL-CIO Department of Education emplored labor's relationaship with higher education. Washington correspondent for Newsweek magazine and noted black author Samuel F. Yette spoke of minorities and their roles in higher learning. Non-student Budget priorities cut by David Sturm Dr. James L. Fisher, President of the college, ex- Pressed anxiety over a resolution presented him by the Maryland Council on Higher Education which asked �that he submit a list of the College's operating budget Priorities in order that the last 15 per cent of these priorities might be eliminated. While emphasizing that such an elimination still lay in the realm of possibility, Fisher noted that the Council wanted such a list by February 1972, a deadline which Fisher called ""impossible"" to meet. ""This resolution is motivated as much by politics as by economics,"" said Fisher. The resolution came on the heels of a request by Gov. Marvin Mandel that a 6.8 per cent increase in salaries for college faculty and staff be made effective Jan. 1. Fisher noted that if the money is denied the college by the state pay board, ""We would as soon take it out of our own operating budget."" Fisher made these remarks at Monday's meeting of the Academic Council. panels dealing with young people's attitudes towards higher education were also held. On pages 8-11 there is an in depth look at the problems, hopes and policies that affect higher education today and in the future. by Jud Almono The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education has reaf-firmed its proposals that the federal government provide nearly $1 Billion for the direct support of educational programs of colleges and universities and urged that as a matter of principle, federal funding of educational programs of institutions of higher education should be , made available on the basis of identifiable national ob-jectives. The Carnegie Commission first advocated greatly ex-panded federal support for higher education in December of 1968. It reaffirms this in the new. report. Its proposals call for a total first-year federal expenditure of more than $6 Billion. Of that amount, $4 Rillion is for programs benefitting institutions and $2 billion is for programs assisting students. The Commission's proposal for federal funding for direct support of educational programs illustrates the principle of tying educational grants to national objectives, Commission Chairman Clark Kerr pointed out. Its major component is in the form of ""cost of education"" sup-plements that give a college or university from $200-$500 for each student who is assisted by federally financed grant or loan programs. Such programs are designed to give low-income students equal educational opprotunities. The Commission believes that the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has a special responsibility to see that all citizens are granted equal opportunities. The Commission also recommends that ""cost of education"" supplements be given not only to students holding educational op-portunity grants, but also to students who have served their nation in the Peace Corps, VISTA, or other such programs, and for veterans receiving educational benefits. Other components of the Commission's proposal for increased federal assistance include $2.5 billion for ex-pansion of existing categorical aid for support of research and construction of academic facilities and approximately $500 million for innovation and improvement of academic programs. It has also recommended more that $2 billion for student assistance. The commission will urge that whatever plan is finally adopted by Congress and the Nixon administration should observe six major principles in addition to the one already mentioned: (continued on page 12) Nader supports McGovern for president by Ward Smith Ralph Nader, consumer protection advocate, has privately given his support to George McGovern for the 1972 democratic presidential nomination. Nader, who had just finished addressing the National Association of Higher Education in the T.S.C. Student Center, told Towerlight in an exclusive interview that he supports George McGovern on his approach to hunger, poverty, and war. Nader said that McGovern seems to be the only candidate with deep concern for the individual, rather than groups and businesses. Nader has long been a crusader for citizens rights and responsibilities in government and in consumer protection. He answered with an unequivocal no when asked if he had ever considered or would ever consider, running for public office. He said no because, ""In politics, I would get bogged down in too many com-promises and couldn't be as effective as I can be now."" Continuing his views on politics, Nader called Nixon's economic policy, ""an effort to support big Business while still ignoring the individual and the consumer."" He said that � McGovern seems to be in-terested in helping the in-dividual citizen, instead of the big businesses which have too much influence. ""McGovern, he said, is a pro-people can-didate in terms of hunger, poverty and disarmament."" Nader also supported the actions of Federal Com-munications Commissioner Nicholas Johnson, whom he has known for six years. Johnson, author of How To Talk Back To Your Television Set, has called for civilian action in demanding greater quality in TV broadcasting, calling for more profes-sionalism in the in-dustry. Johnson told readers, where to write, who to see and what to do to take action on or against those networks or private stations that they feel are not providing sufficient public service and quality programming. "
