WSU assessing budget alternatives besides tuition hike WINONA, Minn., Dec. 10, 2001 -- Alternatives to a tuition increase are available for next fall, but they're unpalatable, academic Vice President Steve Richardson told Winona State University student senators. One alternative would be to increase enrollment dramatically. Also, faculty and staff layoffs could help meet a tighter budget but at the cost of cutting perhaps 1,000 classes. Richardson added, Non-state financial sources might be developed too, he said. "We don't want to just raise tuition. We're looking with a combination of the four alternatives." One worse-case scenario has a 23 percent tuition hike. Reporter: Shannon Passaglia Background: Possible 23% tuition hike

RICHARDSON Academic vice president

UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS AND SCHEDULES
SAINT MARY'S	SOUTHEAST TECH	WINONA STATE

Republicans garner 200 pro-smoking signatures WINONA, Minn., Dec. 10, 2001 -- The executive director of the College Republicans at Winona State, Joe Race, said no immediate action is being taken with 200 signatures that the club collected in opposition to proposed enforcement of university smoking restrictions. Race said that the signatures are being held in case the university decides to enforce a ban that became effective in August. "These signatures are just a starting point. These were collected after only 4-1/2 hours. But we will continue next semester if need be," Race said. The club used free cigarettes to attract the attention of passing students. Asked if passing out the cigarettes was the right way to support the cause or if was a bribe to sign, as some critics said, Race responded: "It was more of a marketing strategy. It got the word out easier. Once word got out that there were free cigarettes, people came to check it out." At issue is a policy that bans smoking within 25 feet of campus buildings. Judging from the number of cigarettes the College Republicans gave out, "the majority of people who signed the petition were smokers," Race said. If the policy did go into effect next semester, Race said that the petitions would be turned into the Student Senate, which Race hopes would support the Republican initiative for smokers to be free to smoke in doorways to campus buildings. Reporter: Jenny Butler Background: GOP passes out cigarettes TO TOP TO HOME PAGE TO EARLIER NEWS

RACE Campus GOP chief Race objects to the 25-foot smoke-free perimeter around campus buildings: "It will be a burden to the community if we have to walk across the street to smoke. We'd leave butts on the church lawns."

WSU installs virus protection on 700 laptops

Duke: Not ready to be a Laptop U

LAURA BURNS	KATI DUPONT	REBECCA SCHMIDT	JOHN MIATSON	PETER OLSON	DAN STETS
TOMORROW'S GREATEST BYLINES TODAY

SMU musicians offer Medieval concert

SMU students grid for exams

Openings, salaries down for computer careers

Nickelback may, may not have Saliva opener

SALVIA Its own tour?

WINONA, Minn., Dec. 10, 2001 -- -- If the Canadian rock Nickelback performs at Winona State this spring, the group Saliva may be one of the openers, said student activities chief Joe Reed. But, then again, maybe not. Salvia is currently opening for Nickelback. Saliva, however, is lining up its own tour of smaller colleges and may not be traveling with Nickelback this spring, said Reed. The $40,000 Winona State proposal for a Nickelback concert would have the group provide two opening acts. Reporter: Jeff Ganske Background: Agent upbeat on Nickelback

Judge: Third partying ticket means jail

WSU hiring e-learning director