Kruzan discusses initiative

Armed with signs declaring "Taxation = Theft" and "Help IUSA Help You," more than 40 people gathered Friday to garner support for tax-free textbooks on Indiana college campuses. The initiative is part of the IU Student Association's yearlong efforts to increase visibility for a bill now being debated in the Indiana general assembly.\nThe bill's author, State Rep. Mark Kruzan, D-Bloomington, addressed the standing-room only crowd in the Walnut Room at the Indiana Memorial Union, lauding IU's success in raising awareness for the legislation. Many people, he said, believe that textbooks are, in fact, tax-free. IU's efforts, ranging from a fall petition drive to leading a similar rally last month in Indianapolis, have proven particularly effective in increasing student interest in the bill. \n"Over 2,000 bills are introduced each year in the state house," Kruzan said. "Only a handful receive the level of visibility as this one, and much of that can be attributed to IU."\nIUSA Legislative Relations director Ben Piper, a junior, cited the bill as a "nonpartisan issue with bipartisan support transcending political ideology." The fall petition drive, he noted, gathered over 13,000 signatures from all 19 Indiana universities.\nSophomore Josh Claybourn, secretary of the College Republicans, agreed with Kruzan, noting the collective importance of the issue to all students, regardless of political affiliation. Claybourn said students must "demand fiscal responsibility" on the part of the administration.\nClaybourn also said the textbook initiative is only the first step in the fight to subsidize student costs on college campuses.\nGraduate student Erin Hollinden, vice president of the IU Libertarians, said students should be allowed to choose where their money goes. Education is vital for economic growth, she said, and initiatives of this type would help decrease the margin between the "haves" and "have-nots."\nKruzan also talked about the possible implications on the state budget should his bill pass. \nIndiana is about $800 million short over the next fiscal year, Kruzan said. While the passage of his bill would mean $20-$50 savings for undergraduates, he said students should next focus attention on the tuition increases likely to result.\n"There is a continual level of underfunding for higher education," Kruzan said. "The affordability of higher education is an issue worthy of pursuit.\n"It's an uphill battle, and it's only going to get higher"