Letters to the editor
Issue date: 11/8/06 Section: Post
Measure 48 could be detrimental to students
Fellow Oregonians,
Every election there is at least one issue that transcends the partisan lines that supposedly divide us between political parties and ideologies. This election, Measure 48 seems to be that issue. Both of the major candidates for governor, Ted Kulongoski and Ron Saxton, oppose the measure.
College students often get softened during budget battles. It's very likely that Measure 48 would adversely affect not only Western Oregon University, but all universities in the Oregon University System. It would lead to greater disinvestment in higher education.
When TABOR [Taxpayer's Bill of Rights]-a measure very similar to Measure 48-passed in Colorado, the legislature there made extensive cuts to higher education in hopes of saving other social services. Funding of higher education dropped 31 percent in Colorado while enrollment rose. Community College tuitions rose by 21 percent. There is no reason to believe that it will not happen in Oregon.
Oregon cannot afford its own version of Colorado's TABOR to be put in our constitution. We, the, Associated Students of Western Oregon University Senate, urge all Oregonians to vote No on Measure 48. We simply cannot afford it.
-The Associated Students of Western Oregon University Senate