On this election day, like all others, Virginians will weigh their views on issues with the candidates' opinions. A cursory examination of the candidates' positions on many issues may be enough to inform the voter on how to vote. However, one issue, education, needs to be examined thoroughly. This November, Virginians need to elect a governor that will keep education a higher priority than it has been over the last four years. The glaring need for this is why improving education has been a major talking point for gubernatorial candidates on the campaign trail. One candidate, Democrat Mark Warner, has both the right vision and plan to be a governor that will be a champion for higher education.
According to a Mason-Dixon poll released Sept. 20, education is the most important issue to Virginians in this year's election. A look back at the Gilmore administration's battles with the Republican-controlled General Assembly over the car tax and the state budget can help explain why education is at the top of the list. During the budget debacle, funding was in jeopardy for higher education institutions throughout the state. In the past year, the budget gridlock resulted in under-funding of schools, no increase in professors' salaries, and construction halts on college campuses around the state. The University fell victim last spring when Gilmore announced a $421 million budget cut that included a freeze on capital construction projects underway on Grounds. Although some funds have been allocated since, it is clearly evident that education systems throughout the state have taken a hit.
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How can something like this be prevented from happening again? The answer is found in Mark Warner's pledge to be a fiscally conservative governor. Every year, the governor and the General Assembly must make difficult decisions concerning the budget, but if elected, Warner will restore fiscal accountability in Richmond so education does not again fall prey to faulty economic plans and gimmick tax cuts.
Aside from taking corrective action on the Gilmore administration's past mistakes, Warner has solid proposals and the experience to improve higher education. Through his service on the board of trustees for Virginia Union University, Appalachian School of Law and George Washington University, Warner personally knows of the challenges colleges and universities face in providing quality education to their students. With that experience, he took the initiative to help develop Tek.Xam and the Virginia High Tech Partnership to aid students in finding opportunities in the increasingly technological world. This is the type of leadership Virginia needs to make certain that graduates meet the demands of the competitive job market.
While it is important that students develop the skills that employers desire, it is equally important that good students continue to have the opportunity to attend Virginia's fine colleges and universities. Warner has announced the Commonwealth Scholars Program, which would provide scholarships for high school students who graduate in the top 20 percent of their class with a "B" average. Demand for financial aid is on the rise with tuition, and this program will reward good students with the means to cover financial needs required to attend Virginia's public colleges and universities. Not only will this provide incentive for high school students to achieve, but it also will increase the reputation and academic experience of Virginia schools by allowing more outstanding students to enroll.
Even without this program, it is clear that more and more people are going to college, and this trend will continue. It has proven difficult for colleges to address the challenges of increased enrollment. Articles and letters to the editor in this newspaper tell tales of rundown buildings and difficulty in taking required classes. It is likely similar stories can be found in the papers of our state competitors. Without accommodating a burgeoning student population, outstanding high school graduates will seek higher education elsewhere. Warner proposes to invest more than $1 billion in capital projects to modernize or build new dorms and classroom buildings. Also, this plan will provide funding to develop and improve research facilities at Virginia colleges and universities. Not only will this serve to enhance opportunities for students, but it also will attract and retain the best professors.
Virginians are right in believing that education is one of, if not the most, important issues in this year's gubernatorial race. Current polls showing a desire for a change in Richmond are accurate reflections on the performance by Gilmore's administration on higher education. If Virginians want to elect a champion for higher education, then they will be right in electing Mark Warner on Nov. 6.
(S. Mohsin Reza is a fourth-year College student. He is president of the University Democrats.)
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