University's lobbying hits higher gear

Don Weaver, IU state relations representative, said a number of bills in progress for the 2003 General Assembly may have an impact on IU, including bills on transferring tobacco settlement funds to universities and pornography in college. \nWeaver announced to the board of trustees on Friday that in addition to lobbying for increased funding for IU, the University is currently following over 1,600 proposals which could affect IU.\nWeaver said many of these bills could mean only a slight change to IU of about a few thousand dollars, but added that if compiled they could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars for the University to consider. \n"I know it's not a lot of money," Weaver said. "But, if you have a lot of bills, these things add up."\nOne such bill which could mean more money for higher education involves transferring tobacco settlement funds. The plan proposes to use $195 million in the tobacco settlement trust fund, which are funds the state won from the tobacco industry in lawsuits, for college scholarships and university construction. \nHowever, the bill has its opponents. Many Republicans oppose spending these funds since the tobacco industry hasn't actually paid their settlement to the state yet.\nWeaver said, due to the substantial criticism, IU may never see these funds.\n"I'd really be surprised if that goes anywhere," Weaver said. "For some reason, it is just not a popular bill."\nWeaver said the University did not publicly support the bill because it is so politically controversial, and IU tries to maintain politically unbiased.\nYet, if the funds were distributed, Weaver said, IU would not turn them down. \n"We'll take money any way we can get it," Weaver said.\nAnother bill IU is following is Representative Woody Burton's who is trying to strengthen university policies against pornographic films.\n"We've spoke with Burton and explained how we deal with the issue," Weaver said. "I think he understands us better now, but I am sure there are other groups who still feel adamant about the issue."\nThis is not Burton's first bill targeting sex at IU. In 1998, Burton proposed cutting funding to the Kinsey Institute and recently suggested proposals to punish those involved in the Shane's World film.\nOther bills of consideration include collective bargaining for education personnel, which could affect IU faculty salaries, and tax credits for donations to foundations, which would include the IU foundation.\nIn addition to tracking the progress of proposals, IU is currently lobbying the general assembly to provide more funds for higher education.\nWeaver said the University is trying many ways to reach the legislators. One such tactic is an extensive advertising campaign to promote IU's importance to Indiana's economy.\n"We are trying to emphasize the value IU has to the state of Indiana," IU spokesman Bill Stephan said. "We are doing this by advertising how many Indiana teachers, attorneys and doctors are IU graduates."\nThe campaign includes several billboards with sayings such as, "33 percent of Indiana teachers are IU graduates. How many do you know?" Other billboards state that over 200,000 IU graduates work in Indiana, and 40 percent of Indiana doctors went to IU. \nLisa Townsend, executive director of the Office of Communications and Marketing, said she expects the campaign to have a positive effect on legislators. \n"We're showing the General Assembly how investing in IU is investing in Indiana," Townsend said.\nWeaver also stressed the importance of legislative activities to give the University an opportunity to speak with members of the General Assembly.\nInterim President Gerald Bepko plans to meet with each of the state's caucus leaders and each of the Fiscal leaders including State Senator Larry Borst, chair of the Finance Committee. \nOther events include Lilly House dinners for each caucus, the Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, and school luncheons to attract legislators interested in the Law School, Education School, Business School and others. \nWeaver said these events are effective tools for reaching IU's financial goals. \n"It's a great way for legislators to actually see the students and faculty that their decisions affect," Weaver said.