F r o n t l i n e The Man, The Plan by Sean Koenig Where does the election of James Gilmore put U.Va.? Despite an early focus on education in the race for governor, principles, not promises, fell from that tree. Gilmore's background predisposes him to benevolence toward higher education: he attended U.Va. as an undergraduate and for law school, and his wife teaches at Randolph-Macon. Unfortunately, however, Gilmore has "no track record" on education, explained government professor Larry Sabato, because his rise from Richmond lawyer to Attorney General included no opportunities to affect policy in that area. Jim Gilmore's Plan for higher education - Will continue the pre-paid tuition program, which allows parents to buy future years at Virginia colleges at today's price. - Wants to make $2,000 a year in undergraduate "New Century" scholarships available to Virginians who graduate from high school with B averages, score in the top 20 percent on the new Standards of Learning test to be implemented in Virginia schools, and have good conduct records. The approximate cost of the program would be $240 million cumulatively over four years and would apply only to students planning to attend institutions of higher learning in Virginia. - Will continue the in-state tuition freeze. - Will appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission to review the needs a goals of higher education in Virginia in the 21st century. This commission will examine the entire range of issues dealing with higher education, including appropriate funding levels, accountability, governance, flexibility, long-range commitments, use of technology, and other issues as needed to ensure that Virginia students are in a strong position to compete in the new marketplaces. Gilmore's campaign made several claims about higher education, as summarized below. When examined closely, the plans seem to have little impact on current U.Va. students. The pre-paid tuition program, which permits parents to buy future years at Virginia colleges at today's prices, is simply a continuation of a program already enacted by former Governor Allen. While allowing "the Commonwealth to act as a broker for Virginia's families," as College Republicans chairman Mike Jeffreys described the initiative, possibly aiding prospective Wahoos in coming decades, there would be little impact on current students. The second program was also the brainchild of George Allen -- the infamous in-state tuition freeze. While clearly aiding the bottom line for myself and fellow Virginians, this program has drawn flack from the out-of-state students picking up the slack and faculty facing stagnant wages. The $2,000 New Century scholarships is an original plan to subsidize outstanding high school students who choose to stay in state and maintain a B average in college. Considering U.Va.'s high academic standards and rampant grade inflation, this would effectively cut tuition costs in half for the vast majority of us beloved in-state Cavaliers. Unless a Republican majority emerges in both houses following runoff elections and recounts, however, it may be some time before this costly program could begin and almost certainly would have no relevance to anyone reading this now. The Blue Ribbon Commission to "review the needs and goals of higher education in Virginia in the 21st century" is, even in Jeffreys' optimistic view, a "first step." Finding little impact in Gilmore's higher education agenda, I sought out the university's political guru, Larry Sabato, for his take on the Gilmore election. Sabato immediately set forward Gilmore's "two tremendous impacts" on the university: he will replace the entire BOV in the course of his tenure and preside over two state budgets. The impact of these decisions will have tremendous implications for U.Va., but what exactly will they be? It would seem then our only guarantee lies in what Sabato described as "loyalty to the university" and Jeffreys lauded as a "commitment to public education." For many students, a gubernatorial race sans a visceral educational issue that would clearly influence their lives as Wahoos provided an easy excuse to absent themselves from the political process. The message I took home from examining the lack of immediacy on the governor's platform was quite the opposite. It is incumbent upon us, with few concrete promises to grasp hold of, to thrust our agenda, as those most affected and knowledgeable about Virginia universities and their needs, upon the new executive. The needs of U.Va. are clearly greater than the four politically convenient programs mentioned above, and it lies with us, faculty and students alike, to provide the impetus for necessary reforms.

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