11

They have called, and they have said there’s not enough money in the bank, and to ignore
that is to ignore the reality in which we are having to make this decision.

Nobody wants to raise tuition in any amount. We have had a confluence of
circumstances that now brings us to this point. The work of the committee has been long
and hard and that’s not why you should vote for it or against it. That’s the job of the
committee and this board. But what we have tried to do is to strike a balance and to try to
meet some of the most critical needs for a short-term solution—a short-term solution
while the state catches its collective breath. And then next year and the following year
we will react to whatever the circumstances are at that time and we all hope and pray that
they won’t be extraordinary. Hopefully the extraordinary circumstance is that our budget
request will be appropriated 100%. That’s an extraordinary circumstance that we would
all like to enjoy.

So Mr. Chairman, as much as I would like to vote for Mr. Nieman’s amendment, I would
urge the board to vote against the amendment and let’s move forward to the consideration
of the recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee.

Chairman Ruffin thanked Mr. Wilson. Chairman Ruffin put the amendment to the

original motion. A voice vote was taken and Mr. Nieman called for a division of the house.

Chairman Ruffin asked for a show of hands on the vote. Secretary Britt and Ms. Fuse-Hall

counted and noted 11 votes for the amendment, 17 votes against it. The chair declared the

amendment failed by a vote of 17-11.

Chairman Ruffin called for the vote on the original motion and it passed by a

majority vote. Before the vote was recorded, Mr. Farris sought clarification on whether the

previous discussion was on the substitute motion. He sought discussion on the original motion.

The chair opened the floor for discussion. Mr. Farris called attention to the language inserted

earlier regarding East Carolina, North Carolina State, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, and

UNC Wilmington and questioned whether those campuses would need to resubmit their requests

for approval by the President, consistent with the Board of Governors’ Tuition Policy. In further

discussion and seeking the guidance and concurrence of the committee, Mr. Wilson asked that

the insertion which was previously added on page two of the 2000-2001 Supplemental Budget

Request of the committee’s recommendation be deleted. No opposition was expressed.

Chairman Ruffin said the vote had been taken and he wanted to make sure there

were no more questions. He thanked the Committee on Budget and Finance for their report and

thanked the students for coming. At this point Mr. Nieman and the students left the meeting. As

the students exited the meeting, several members expressed concern regarding whether the board