UA officials criticize Hull funding denials

Arizona Gov. Jane Hull's proposed budget for fiscal years 2000 and 2001 lacks funding requested for some university programs - including Optics and the library.

Carla Stoffle, library dean of the University of Arizona, warned Hull's decision to deny the Main Library $1.3 million may force her to buy fewer books and cut parts of the budget. Stoffle added that the library expects inflation of 10 percent to 13 percent on items that they purchase.

"I think it demonstrates a lack of understanding on her (Hull's) part of what it costs to run a university," Stoffle said yesterday. "We won't be adding what we really should be adding...to stay where our students ought to be."

Stoffle added that some online publications and journals that the library offers might not receive the necessary subscription funding.

"We can't stay even," she said. "Somehow, something has to give."

But Francie Noyes, Hull's press secretary, said she's not positive that the funding request passed through the governor's office.

"She seems to be blaming the governor and I don't know that the request even came to the governor's office," Noyes said from Phoenix yesterday. "We clearly believe that we understand the needs of the university."

Stoffle said she saw what the UA sent to the governor's office and the request was included.

Richard Powell, the UA's former director of Optical Sciences, said the $2 million that the optics department requested is critical for the program's development.

"The optics initiative is an attempt to try to expand on the optics opportunities that we have on campus," said Powell, the new UA vice president for research and graduate studies. "I think it's critical and I would certainly like to see it get funded."

Jaime Molera, Hull's education policy adviser, said many requests are not granted because others are more demanding and the money is not infinite.

"There's a whole bunch that don't get funded every year," he said.

Molera referred to the requests as "wish-lists" of items that universities would like to have in the coming years.

But Powell said that the funding request is more important than wishful thinking. Southern Arizona ranks third in the nation for fast-growing optics opportunities, he said.

"It's a very important aspect of our development program," Powell said.

Noyes refused comment on the optics funding request, but she was quick to say that while requests were denied, no existing funding was cut.

Powell said he's more concerned about the Arizona legislature's decision to cut university funding in its proposal.

"It's not even an issue of dollars," he said. "It's an issue of attitude. Right now, we're fighting for our life to get anything funded in higher education."