| Voting for Prop 4 could help in achieving Tier One |
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| Written by Kent Long | ||||
| Thursday, 22 October 2009 03:58 PM | ||||
  The Shorthorn: Thea Blesener We have all heard quite a bit about Tier One status over the past year, and now we have the chance to put forth our efforts to help attain that status. We can lend our voice to this process by casting a simple vote. Next week, the University Center Palo Duro Lounge will be transformed into an early voting site that will allow students, faculty and all other Tarrant County registered voters to exercise their right to vote to show our lawmakers that UT Arlington is a voice to be heard. At the polling stations, voters will find ballots with a constitutional amendment titled Proposition 4... What is Prop 4, and why should students be so excited about it? State Proposition 4 is “The constitutional amendment establishing the National Research University Fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the Higher Education Fund to the National Research University Fund.” What does this mean to UT Arlington? If passed, Prop 4 may provide the financial support that will open the door for the seven designated emerging research universities in Texas, including UT –Arlington. The university would be able to compete to become a national research institutions and gain Tier One status. Most appealingly, Proposition 4 will not create any new taxes and no bonds will be levied. Basically, Prop 4 will move money that is currently not used to support Texas higher education and move it into the hands of emerging research universities providing numerous opportunities for students. I cannot stress enough how important it is to vote. Student Congress has worked hard to register our students to vote; you can complete this initiative by going to the polls. This is perhaps the best way to enrich UT Arlington’s future and the future students that will walk in your steps. Our university does what it can to support us, now it is time for us to support UT Arlington. In the recent presidential elections, the UT Arlington community went to the polls and cast their votes in record numbers, I know we can do the same for these elections. I encourage you all to be the Mavericks you are and cast your vote. You can vote from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday next week in the Palo Duro Lounge. To read Proposition 4, or House Joint Resolution 14, or find more information on Tier One status or any of the other issues on the ballot this year, visit www.sos.state.tx.us, or visit Student Congress in the University Center lower level. Kent Long is an organizational communication senior and Student Congress president Views: 835 | E-mail
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 January 2010 01:41 PM ) | ||||
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