Time, the nation's oldest weekly news magazine, and Ohio University hosted a "town meeting" on public school financing May 7 on the Athens campus. The meeting was part of the magazine's cross-country bus trip exploring U.S. Route 50, which Time called "the backbone of America in search of the modern American Dream."

Time editors decided to focus on public school funding following the Ohio Supreme Court's ruling that the state's method of funding public schools was unconstitutional. The stop at Ohio University by Time editors, reporters and photographers was part of a two-and-a-half-week trip across Rt. 50 that began in Ocean City, Md., and ended in San Francisco, traveling through hundreds of communities and four state capitals. A special section in the July 4 issue of the magazine was expected to report on the group's findings.

President Robert Glidden moderated the town meeting at Baker Theater in Kantner Hall, which drew more than 100 people from the campus and community. Panelists included Time Washington Bureau Chief Michael Duffy; OU Distinguished Professor of Economics Richard Vedder; Associate Professor of Mathematics Jim Shirey, who also is an Athens City School Board member; and Virginia May, superintendent of Athens County Schools.

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