Locke surprises students by endorsing Initiative 674 during campus visit

Jason Sykes
Daily Staff

As planned, Gov. Gary Locke visited UW's Computer Science and Engineering programs yesterday afternoon to conclude a day that began with the announcement of his financial plan for higher education.

An unexpected twist was his endorsement of an initiative that he wasn't aware of until minutes before signing it.

Locke added his name to a petition to place Initiative 674 on the 1997 November election ballot.

I-674 calls for the exemption of schools, colleges and libraries from the provisions of Initiative 601, which places a cap on increases in state budgetary expenditures equal to the growth in population.

The petition has been signed by nearly 2,500 people on the UW campus in the past four days. In order to be placed on the ballot, 200,000 registered voters must sign the petition by early July.

"I've said all along that enrollment demands exceed population growth," Locke said of his support for the initiative.

Jasper MacSlarrow, ASUW vice president and president of Students for Washington's Future (the group of students organizing the I-674 petition drive), was "fired up" by Locke's endorsement.

"It's awesome," MacSlarrow said.

"It's very important [because] it sends a message to the state that [Locke] supports public education and that he supports removing public education from the 601 cap.

"The effects of I-674 will be felt by the students behind us [as well]," MacSlarrow said. "It's an investment in the future."

According to MacSlarrow, this investment would also pay dividends to present students in the forms of lower tuition and increased funding.

"The investment the state wishes to make in higher education will be realized [if I-674 is adopted]. The only thing that stands in the legislature's way is I-601."
Locke's tour

What Locke saw during his tour of Sieg Hall seemed to reassure him that his call for increased funds for education was justified.

During his visit Locke was introduced to department projects and technology by graduate and undergraduate students.

In the GRAIL room (GRaphics And Imaging Laboratory), graduate students Joanna Powers and Eric Stollnitz told Locke about improvements in two-color printing.

The highlight of Locke's tour seemed to be his stop in the laboratory for integrated systems and his introduction to senior Greg DeFouw's robot "OogaBot." Locke was very impressed by the four- legged, spiderlike robot that was powered by 12 model-airplane engines and controlled by a VCR remote control.

At every stop on his tour Locke asked students what drew them to the UW.

"I was really impressed by the students who said they had heard of the reputation of the engineering and computer sciences department and were attracted by the faculties," Locke said.

He said the budget he's proposed would help keep UW faculty competitive.