Torgersen working for university's future
Spectrum Volume 17 Issue 17 - January 26, 1995
President Paul Torgersen has been pounding the hallways of the General Assembly since the gavel first came down, talking about the impact of the proposed budget cuts on the entire university.
"Since the beginning of the session, Dr. Torgersen has personally met with all of the members of both the House and Senate money committees," said Larry Hincker, director of University Relations. "Plus, he has met with countless other legislators, talking about the needs of higher education, championing the cause of the Extension programs and the experiment stations."
Hincker said that Torgersen has been talking with the presidents of the other state universities on how best to respond to the General Assembly. As an outgrowth of that effort, the subcommittees responsible for higher education have has introduced an omnibus budget bill to restore all of the funding cut from higher education. In addition to the omnibus bill, Hincker noted, each university will submit individual college amendments.
Torgersen joined with numerous faculty members for the first Agri-Celebration in Richmond on the opening day of the General Assembly. Forestry and agriculture-industry leaders were in attendance, along with many members of the state legislature, for a review of the achievements of these two industries that account for one-fourth of the gross state product.
Hincker said that in addition to meeting with various benefactors to the university to discuss the budget situation, Torgersen also held an editorial board meeting with the Richmond Times Dispatch to discuss the future of higher education funding in the commonwealth, and testified before the House Appropriations Committee on Monday. The Times Dispatch also ran an article Torgersen wrote defending the role of Extension as an essential state service and deserving of continued funding. (See article on page 1.)