University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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Dr. David Brown Mathematics Unfortunatebf, I do believe that this past year was the first of many years offlnancial problems for Pitt. Until the entire tax program of Pennsylvania is overhauled, I see no hope for a long range jinancial solution for this university and for higher education in general. KU my jigures are correct, the commonwealth has over I 50 sep- arate and unrelated taxesj. In my estimation, the key in- gredient for such a tax rqform is a personal income tax. I believe the jinancial future of the universigf will be austere at least for a couple of years. We will see no new expansion in terms of either personnel or facilities. I hope, as a result of this dilemma, that the university community will take an active role in the elections for state legislators. It was during this period that our traditional six Great Professors were selected and asked to comment concerning the University and its past Iinancial crisis .

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U NIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH 1. CHANCBLLOR or THB UNIVERSITY July ll, 1969 Dear Student: I regret that I must notify you that, as of this date, it appears virtually certain there will be a tuition increase at the University of Pittsburgh effective with the fall 1969 term. The amount of the increase will depend on action to be taken or expected to be taken by the Common- wealth legislature, which has not yet appropriated funds for the fiscal year that began on July l, 1969. Although the leadership of the General Assembly is working to resolve the state's fiscal dilemma, they now advise me that it seems unlikely that sufficient funds will be appropriated to meet the budget requests of this and other state-related universities, and that increases in tuition will be required to meet operating expensesf We anticipate that the extent of the increase at Pitt will be established within a few days or weeks, and in any case before tuition bills are sent out next month. As you are aware, this problem for the University of Pittsburgh is but one aspect of a general budget impasse affecting the government of the Commonwealth and all institutions serviced by it. The University, along with other state-supported institutions, submitted its budget request on schedule nearly a year ago, after which the request was reviewed, modified, and incorporated in the budget submission of the Governor to the General Assembly last January. Normally, a legislature can be expected to act on a budget in late winter or spring, but this year the legislature has gone through a very difficult period of debate and negotiation that still continues. In closing, let me say how much I regret the prospect of an additional financial burden on the student, but we are presented with no other choice at this time. Sincerely, M LZXQY Wi Lt my Wesley W. osvar Chancellor or even close if the problem was not solved. It was not until 'March - nine months later that a budget did pass, and we knew at least for the time being, we were safe

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Dr. Myron Taube English The Universigf has just gone throu h another financial crisis. Soon it will go through anotlgier. The onhf uncer- tainty is when. The reason for the inevitability ofthe crisis is obvious: money. Pitt needs money. The problem is not so much economics as philosophyg not procedures but priorities. U' it were a question of in- competent management, we could throw out the rascals and bring in competent men. Q' it were simpbf a question of maximum utilization of space, we could maintain Forbes Field as an outdoor lecture hall. The problem is more com- plex. Given the mish-mash quilt-work pattern of Penn- sylvania politics, it is almost impossible for Harrisburg to work toward established goals. If it is onbf incidentalhf important that this university is vital to the economic lyfe of Pittsburghg politicians, busi- nessmen and those who work here understand this kind of dollars and cents talk. More important is that the Uni- versigi is one of the few institutions in the country still sensitive to the needs of the peo le. But will sociegf sup- port an institution whose benqiiys to the community are vast, but oj7en not immediatehf visible? Will Pitt alumni support nancialbf the institution that has been the spring- board or much of their success? It is all a question of values. will this be a recurring situation, and if so where does the future of the University 1169 19