Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 30, 1995 TAG: 9510300023
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When it comes to grading Virginia's system of colleges and universities, Republicans tend to give Gov. George Allen an "A" - for stressing accountability.
But Democrats assign much lower marks. "C" for critical, "D" for deteriorating or even "F" for falling behind.
Higher education has become an issue in this year's General Assembly races to a degree that may be unprecedented in Virginia's legislative elections.
To some extent, that reflects the way the nation's workplace is being transformed from an industrial economy to an information economy, and the widespread recognition that knowledge translates into jobs.
It also reflects the budget cuts Virginia's system of higher education has undergone in the past five years.
Democrats have enthusiastically - and unanimously - pushed higher education as an issue this fall.
Claude Whitehead, the Democratic challenger to Del. Allen Dudley, R-Rocky Mount, is typical: "What is happening to our once-proud educational system is probably causing me more concern than any other issue in this election," he says.
Whitehead laments that Virginia now has the nation's second-highest tuition rates, that "quality faculty" members are leaving for higher-paid jobs elsewhere, and that Virginia Tech's engineering school has slipped in national rankings - all, he says, a direct result of state budget cuts.
He and other Democrats join in proposing that the state increase higher education funding by "at least $200 million" in the next two-year state budget - an increase they say can be paid for through normal revenue growth.
Some Roanoke Valley Democrats add another twist. John Edwards, the challenger to state Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, has made one of his main campaign themes the call for creating a "higher education center," where valley residents can obtain a four-year degree.
Republicans - outside of districts that are home to state colleges - have been much more reluctant to embrace higher education as a major issue.
When they do talk about it, they, too, blame the governor's office - but not its current occupant. Instead, they point out that the higher-education budget cuts started during the tenure of Allen's Democratic predecessor, Douglas Wilder.
"During the last administration in Richmond, support for higher education plunged from 22nd in the country in the mid-1980s to 46th during Wilder's last year in office," says Larry Linkous, the Republican challenger to Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg.
"Wilder's cuts eviscerated higher education," agrees Newell Falkinburg, the GOP challenger to Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke.
But they don't necessarily agree on what to do next.
Some Republicans join Democrats in calling for more money. "Obviously, we must increase our funding for higher education," says Pat Cupp, the Republican challenger to state Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville.
Others, though, avoid mention of increased spending. "I do not believe excellence is always tied to more funding," says Steve Newman, the Republican state Senate candidate hoping to replace the retiring Elliot Schewel, D-Lynchburg.
Instead, many of the Republicans return to the A-word. "We also need accountability from university administrators ... " says Bell. Adds Falkinburg: "We can now look at increased funding coupled with real reform and accountability."
For a closer look at what the General Assembly candidates in Western Virginia think the state should do to improve higher education, see page A4.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB