tl20030313-000 "The l'inilErliDlib Baltimore's #1 College Paper - Published Twice-Weekly - www.thetowerlight.com Students tutor at-risk children 5 Gender issues talk of science forum 5 Irish band to play at CAB festival 13 'Banks' is typical spy-themed flick 14 Departments Opinion 2 News 5 Nation/Blotter 8 Arts 13 Book Review 14 Entertainment Briefs 15 Art Around You 16 Sports 20 Bankshots 18 In This Corner 20 Classifieds 17 'Pride' doesn't cut it Legislature to slash USM budget by $37M Sarah Breitenbach The Towerlight ANNAPOLIS � Despite efforts by TU students to lobby General Assembly members in hopes of avoiding further cuts to higher edu-cation, an education subcommittee approved a $37 million cut to the University System of Maryland for the 2004 fiscal year on Tuesday. The latest cut, coupled with Governor Robert Ehrlich's pro-posed $105 million cut included in his 2004 fiscal year budget adds up to an overall 15-percent reduction to the USM's General Fund, accord-ing to a press release issued by the system Wednesday. The 2004 fiscal year begins July 1. University student leaders trav-eled to the state's capital Monday afternoon for the fourth-annual Tiger Pride Day to speak with dele-gates and senators about the impor-tance of protecting education and to promote Towson. Bobbie O'Connell, a junior finance major and an organizer for the event, said she considered this year's program a success and added that the students' focus was to advocate for funding in education when meeting with Assembly mem-bers on an individual basis. ""This year, obviously the under-lying mission was no more cuts to higher education,"" she said. ""We just 'don't emphasize on no more cuts to Towson, but the system as a whole. We don't want anymore cuts."" After meeting with represents- See BUDGET, page 7 Protesters say no to war Saul Stoogenke The Towerbght Freshman Scott Brittingham holds a mask of President Bush over a model of a dead Iraqi baby during Tuesday's anti-war protest. Thursday, 3/13/03 Post may be filled this month Mike Morris The Towerlight One year ago this week the Towson community was celebrating the inauguration of former TU pres-ident Mark Perkins. Today, acting President Dan Jones, who has been in the president's office for roughly 11 months as Perkins' temporary replacement, is unsure of his future with the University. Jones said he may return to serv-ing as provost, go back to teaching or possibly retire when his time as TU's leader is up - although he's not exactly sure when that will be. ""I'm kind of an odd guy,"" he joked about not being bothered by being kept out of the presidential search process, which aims to find his permanent successor. The process is being kept strictly between Towson's search commit-tee and the USM Board of Regents, Jones said. James Clements, head of the search committee, said the group continues to conduct thorough background checks on ""four or five"" candidates. Clements said the committee will likely meet once more before Spring Break, but he anticipates the break will serve as vital catch-up time for the group. There's still a possibility of the announcement of a new president by the end of the month, Clements said, adding ""but we don't want to rush."" Clements also said he has heard rumors that certain presidential finalists have paid Towson's cam-pus a visit incognito. WTMD shifts from EMF to Univ. marketing Jenny Lehman The Towerlight After being under the manage-ment of either the electronic media and film or mass communication department for the duration of its existence, Towson University's WTMD-FM radio station is now the Today High 46 Low 31 responsibility of the department of University Marketing. While many see the move as a positive change for the University, some EMF faculty members are unhappy with the recent decision, which went into effect March 1. However, many of them chose not to comment. Friday High 43 Low 33 Saturday High 57 Low 42 Stephen Yasko, general manager of WTMD, said change is always hard in any situation and WTMD certainly is in a growth period and a period of change. ""I think WTMD is obviously a sig-nificant asset for the University, both academically and in terms of its public service,"" he said. ""I don't Sunday High 59 Low 40 think it really matters where the sta-tion sits, as long as it's achieving its mission."" Ellen Stokes, associate vice presi-dent for University Marketing, is now in charge of the radio station. Stokes said that after many conver-sations, the provost decided the See WTMD, page 7 Monday High 60 Low 38 "