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'Ghetto' remark offends

CU's Brown riles only black member of higher-ed board

Erika Gonzalez, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 20, 2007 at midnight

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University of Colorado President Hank Brown warned Friday that the state will "ghettoize" middle-income students in less-challenging schools unless it increases funding to its best institutions.

Later, Jim Stewart, the only black member of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, said he was offended by Brown's use of the word "ghettoize."

Brown's remarks came at a meeting among the commission and college and university presidents intended to end squabbling over funding as Gov. Bill Ritter prepares a budget he will present to lawmakers Nov. 1.

Budget cuts stemming from the last recession hit CU's Health Sciences Center particularly hard. The center has lost more $11,000 in state funding per student over the past five years and has raised tuition 52.4 percent for in-state students.

Low-income students typically can qualify for scholarships, Brown said, but the increases "simply restrict kids on the edge from going to a high- cost institution.

"Over the years, you'll ghettoize those students," he said. "They'll have to go to less-challenging institutions because we've priced them out."

Stewart said he was offended by the remark and followed Brown out of the state Capitol hearing room, where they had words behind a coat closet.

"I will only say that I approached him about that subject," Stewart told the Associated Press.

Brown, who is retiring, wants the commission to ensure that state funds are distributed equitably among Colorado's colleges and universities. He argued that in recent years, the legislature has poured proportionately more money into institutions that have lower-cost programs.

While CU's presentation focused on overall funding shortfalls, other schools stressed specific programs.

Metropolitan State College President Stephen Jordan requested $2.8 million to hire more tenure-track professors and another $1.3 million fund a program designed to retain more first-year students.

Ritter told the commission that higher education funding is a priority, but cautioned: "We face realities that make it difficult to get there quickly. It will be a marathon and not a sprint."

The wish list

A look at the funding needs of two schools:

• COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

$22.9 million for utility increases, controlled maintenance and staff and faculty salaries and benefits.

$17 million to increase the number of qualified undergraduate students, raise retention and graduation rates, and improve security.

$7.3 million for financial support for qualified students.

$3.1 million to bring CSU Pueblo up to to base level funding. The campus receives $1,694 less in state appropriations than other small, four-year colleges in Colorado.

• METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE

$2.8 million to hire more full-time, tenure-track professors.

$1.3 million to fund a program aimed at retaining first-year students, through a first-year seminar, academic support and outreach to families.

or 303-954-5350 The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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