Un-parallel universes - Julie DelCour, Tulsa World

Last session, lawmakers cut higher ed by 5.8 percent. Oklahoma reportedly ranked 12th in the nation in such cuts. When federal stimulus money was excluded, state funding declined by 9.6 percent from fiscal 2011 to FY 2012. Meanwhile, more than 16,000 students were added to the system over the past two years. Fallin's own FY 2013 budget calls for a standstill appropriation of $945 million to higher ed, which ignores state Chancellor Glen Johnson's request of $34.7 million more. That 3.7 percent hike would bring to $980 million the total allocation sought from the Legislature. Get real. Last year, Johnson sought a $1.2 billion appropriation for higher ed but had to settle for the $945 million.