Corrigan talks cash

Urging students and faculty to focus on the brilliance of San Francisco State University's future and not the ugly parts of its past, University President Robert Corrigan sounded upbeat and positive in his address at the annual faculty meeting regarding the upcoming academic year on Tuesday.

Corrigan announced that SF State has received a $9 million budget increase, the largest in the California State University system, for this coming year.

"We cannot, we must not, we will not allow California to retreat from its historic commitment of funding higher education for all citizens," he said.

He said the money has been used to increase student financial aid, add more class sections, and increase library and instructional equipment funding, campus maintenance and educational technology.

Vera Lane, associate dean of the College of Education said the budget information was good news for a change.

"Putting more money into maintenance was long needed and it's good to hear about additional class sections and additional funds for the library."

In addition, $31 million was raised from resources outside of state funding, which Corrigan said was an all-time high.

Another issue he spoke on in the meeting was affirmative action. He reaffirmed his pro-affirmative action stance for SF State.

"This campus must never retreat from the goals of affirmative action," he said. "Maintaining affirmative action is absolutely imperative if we are to have any chance of meeting our goal of providing fairness and real opportunity to all members of our society."

The president also criticized the University of California system by saying it shamed California by voting to overturn affirmative action and that it set a bad example for the rest of the nation.

Ed Apodaca, associate vice-president for enrollment services said he was very pleased to hear Corrigan's stance.

"I'm very glad that he spoke out in favor of diversity and affirmative action. It's very important that he be clear on his stance and especially so early in the year," he said.

[ back to Golden Gater Online August 31, 1995 ]

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