Colleges all over the nation, both public and private, are already taking somewhat drastic measures to cut expenses with the economy in such poor condition. The New York Times ran a front page article on the issue today, detailing the financial issues college administrators face — from decreased aid from budget-conscious state governments to admissions offices offering less places to students eligible for need-based financial aid. No reference to UW, however, nasty budget fights over university funding are not new to the people of the Badger State, and long precede current economic downturn.