Would someone please wake up the legislators and voters in Arizona and explain to them that education is one of the most important factors for our future?

Arizona Board of Regents President Eddie Basha spoke at Monday's Faculty Senate meeting about an anti-education trend and how educators should be active in communicating with the governor and state legislature. It is an alarm clock that needs to wake this state up.

Unfortunately, it is one falling on deaf ears. The concern is how blind this state has been in viewing education as a tool of widening its own horizons, through the voters and the government.

In the fall of 1994, the voters decided to keep Gov. Fife Symington in office and deny the education-minded Basha a chance to try and work his magic.

However, the current government's "magic" has not been working in support of education.

Symington has recommended that the University of Arizona's budget be increased by $1 million, while the legislators are willing to raise it $4 million.

The total proposed budget of $226.1 million will not even be able to cover the 2 percent merit pay raise scheduled for Jan. 1, 1997.

How are educators to remain content during such proposals? And what does this say about the government's direction for education?

These budgets show the government is unwilling to fund the future of this state.

While the UA grows and competes nationwide, the governor and the legislature do not realize the priority that education should have.

As Basha said during Monday's meeting, "We need to focus our talents and abilities to find that Republican or Democrat who is committed to education and get that person elected."

Too bad that person could have been elected in 1994.

Staff Editorial