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Herald's history series: Fiscal crisis threatened Western Carolina in '33By Carey Phillips |
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Much has been in the news lately about the state budget crisis, but it's certainly not the first time North Carolina has had money problems.
During the Great Depression, things got so bad that reports circulated that Western Carolina Teachers College (now Western Carolina University) would close its doors. Following is an article from the Feb. 14, 1933, Ruralite. "Don't get the idea in your head that Western Carolina Teachers College is about to close. I will work for only my room and board, and I am sure that the faculty members will do so if such is necessary to save the institution," declared President H.T. Hunter Wednesday afternoon in an address to the student body on the financial outlook of the college since the State Budget Bureau made its recommendation for the new fiscal year to the General Assembly. "If the financial situation closes our college, it will do so with a group of teachers fighting with all their might to save it," President Hunter said. "I wish that the legislature of North Carolina could see the heart of the North Carolina teacher. I don't think there is a group in this nation that is more willing to sacrifice for the sake of fruitful service than the 24,000 teachers of North Carolina. I am sure that eventually our lawmakers will wake up to the injustice that is being done to those who teach and lead the youth of the Old North State." President Hunter pointed out that the State Budget Bureau is recommending an appropriation for the new fiscal year that is approximately $30,000 below the appropriation for the present fiscal year or from $10-12,000 below the actual amount that the college is getting this year. The college is actually getting this year about $40,000. The Budget Bureau recommended an appropriation of $30,260 for the new fiscal year. President Hunter said that it was even possible that the appropriation would be several thousand dollars less than this figure. "The new Budget Bureau proposal means a slash of $11,000 from the salary schedule at Western Carolina or $600 or more from the average individual salary. This means that the average individual salary of the Cullowhee teacher would be about $1,100 for 10 1/2 months service. In other words, the instructors in our institution would be teaching for a salary less than is obtainable in the rural public schools of North Carolina." Editor's note: This is the weekly installment of a review of our back issues as The Sylva Herald and Ruralite celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2001. |
Back to Archive: 04/12/01. |