Portland State President Wim Wiewel will be leading a panel discussion on OPB’s radio program “Think Out Loud” Jan. 7, discussing the future of higher education in Oregon before legislators reconvene next week.
The event, held in an effort to gain the ear of the state legislators before the start of the 2009 legislative session, will be held tomorrow in the ballroom of Smith Memorial Student Union and include both a panel discussion as well as a Q-and-A session with the panelists.
Wiewel will be appearing alongside three other Oregon university presidents—David Frohnmayer of the University of Oregon, Ed Ray of Oregon State University and Dixie Lund of Eastern Oregon University. The four presidents will discuss the current state of Oregon’s major universities as well as the future of higher education in the state during these times of economic recession.
The idea for the event came from Scott Gallagher, PSU’s own director of communications.
Gallagher said he cares about Oregon’s future existence in a global economy. It was important to bring the university presidents together to discuss higher education because it’s not always a high priority during a recession.
“In a down economy, and when people are in a recession, there are budget cuts,” Gallagher said. “Higher education is the key to Oregon competing in a global economy in the future.”
The event is free and starts at 7 p.m in the Smith Student Memorial Student Union Ballroom on the third floor.
Gallagher also said the timing of the event is important, because Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s recent state budget proposal allotted $917 million for higher education.
“We recently got the governor’s proposed budgets and next week we are heading into session,” said Gallagher, referring to the state Legislature’s first meeting of the legislative session next week. “It is a perfect opportunity to bring awareness to higher education. Getting presidents together is an opportunity to bring that discussion to life.”
However, Kulongoski’s proposed budget still has to be approved by several committees within the state Legislature—hence the need to remind legislators of the importance of higher education, Gallagher said.
“Unfortunately it is not all entirely up the governor,” he joked.
Kerri Griesbeck of University Communications said that students should attend the event because they can learn more about the legislative process, as well as how higher education works. “This is their chance to ask questions,” said Griesbeck of the Q-and-A session during the press meeting.
Students interested can both the Q-and-A session and the Think Out Loud taping, which will be held at 4:30 p.m and 7 p.m. on the third floor of SMSU in the Vanport room and SMSU ballroom, respectively. The event is free and open to the public.
For more information on the event or to post questions about the state of higher education to the panelists, visit <a href=”http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud”>www.opb.org/thinkoutloud</a>.