Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee urged members of the University Senate Saturday to speak out against Gov. George V. Voinovich’s preliminary budget proposal that would cut $200 million from higher education funding requests submitted by the Ohio Board of Regents.Gee said he is extremely disappointed with preliminary figures that would give $2.98 billion for instructional subsidies to Ohio’s 38 public colleges and universities over the next two years–annual increases of 2.6 percent and 2.4 percent.The Ohio Board of Regents asked the Voinovich administration to reconsider its proposal and recommended 7 percent and 6.3 percent increases for the next two years.’We should be rewarded for what we have done because we have done well,’ Gee said referring to Ohio State’s performance despite $272 million in state funding cuts since 1990.He opposed Voinovich’s emphasis on increased funding for prisons.’We’ll give them Morrill Tower for a prison if that’s what they want,’ Gee said.William J. Napier, executive assistant to the president and secretary to the Board of Trustees, said term limits on Ohio lawmakers hinders abilities to get more state money for higher education.’We need to educate (House and Senate) members and work with them over a longer period of time,’ he said.Napier supported a plan to fund public colleges and universities based on performance rather than the existing enrollment-based plan.He said OSU’s administration has worked hard to comply with Voinovich’s request to increase efficiency and operate within a tight budget.In other business, the senate unanimously approved a proposal from the Athletic Council to appoint a voting staff member to the council.Ruth D. Peterson, chairwoman of the Athletic Council said OSU’s staff has a direct concern with issues before the council and should be represented by a voting member.Priscilla North, chairwoman of the Committee on Traffic and Parking said planning has begun on the new Tuttle parking garage that will provide about 1,000 parking spaces. The Public Safety Building is scheduled for demolition in June, 1997 and the garage will be built on that site.John Carney, president of USG, announced plans for a Cultural Diversity Festival to be held April 20-26. The festival’s purpose is to bring all racial and ethnic backgrounds together so people can be made aware of other cultures, he said.Carney also asked senate members for support on the COTA proposal and a proposal to reduce the number of required GEC credit hours.