Human and Family Resources faculty might hold classes at a preview to Day of Action II on April 5 for NIU students and faculty concerned about higher education funding.

Featuring State Representatives Zeke Giorgi, D-Rockford, and Myron Olson, R-Dixon, the all-day program called Teach-in will consist of lectures and question-answer periods from 9:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. in Wirtz Hall.

Human and Family Resources professor Ellen Parham, also a Teach-in committee member, said, “We hope that the outcome of the day will rally the students to rally their parents—it’s a preparation for the Day of Action II, not competition or an alternative.”

Parham said faculty who want to attend the Teach-in should make clear to their students class is not cancelled for the day but just moved to another location.

NIU Provost Kendall Baker plans to initiate the day and speak about “The Impact of the Funding Crisis on the University.” Giorgi and Olson both will talk about the state representatives’ viewpoints on higher education funding.

Giorgi said, “It’s kind of quaint because you don’t see this type of dialogue (between students and legislators) very often.

“I think the (university) wants to know the future in higher education and how viable it is from a legislator’s standpoint.”

A list of questions, including “What does it take to convince the legislature and governor that more funding is needed?”, will be asked of the speakers, but other questions are welcome.

Parham said the Teach-in Committee formed to “do something positive about the budget cuts which are causing a decrease in the number of classes offered.”

In fall 1986, the HFR department offered 63 classes. In fall 1987 the number dropped to 56 and next fall the number will decrease to 46, which is 73 percent of the fall ‘86 semester.

Although the Teach-in Committee evolved in the HFR department, Parham said the problem goes far beyond students involved in HFR.

“The funding crisis is a pretty general problem related to every student on campus,” Parham said. “Some students are not even aware that there is a problem.”

Peggy Sullivan, College of Professional Studies dean, said she is concerned about how the funding crisis will affect employment of students following graduation.

“Some people think the budget cuts were recent enough that the faculty positions are just temporarily frozen—those positions are gone,” Sullivan said.

Besides informing others of the funding crisis, Parham said she wants to nurture solidarity among students, faculty and administrators in dealing with the crisis.

She also hopes to develop strategies for supporting a tax increase to increase funding for higher education.

Agenda sheets listing the speakers and topics of speech can be picked up in Wirtz 209.