UF budget reductions to be focus of WUFT program, April 23, 26

April 23, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. –– Public broadcasting station WUFT-TV/DT will present a special edition of the public affairs program “North Florida Journal” on Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. An encore presentation is scheduled for Sunday, April 26, at 12:30 p.m.

The program, hosted by WRUF-AM/FM News Director Tom Krynski, focuses on the proposed higher education budget reductions by the Florida Legislature.

With the application of $20 million dollars in potential new tuition revenues, the University of Florida also could see a reduction of $30 million in the present Senate version of the budget and $90 million in the present House version. This also includes federal stimulus funds that are only available for the next two years.

Many participants on campus differ on how to deal with the immediate state budget reductions, as well as the long-term future of UF. The reduction plan calls for as much as 10 percent from each UF college, and some layoffs of faculty and staff. The program will feature a panel discussion by:

• Joe Glover, UF provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs
• John Biro, UF professor and chapter president of United Faculty of Florida
• David Quillen, UF associate professor of medicine and chair of the Faculty Senate Budget Council
• Danaya Wright, UF professor of law and chair of the Faculty Senate Academic Policy Council

WUFT-TV/DT is a member of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and features local and national information and entertainment programming to 17 North Central Florida counties (21 via cable). WUFT-TV/DT is available on Cox Cable Channel 3 in Gainesville and Channel 703 in the high-definition tier.

The program will be available via “Video on Demand” at http://www.wuft.tv after the initial broadcast.