Students voice budget cut concerns
By Meredith Skrzypczak (Last updated: 12/03/09 11:47pm)Shouts in protest of the proposed cuts to MSU programs and departments echoed in a lecture hall full of students as it became the venue to voice concerns about recent university discussions to deal with a tight budget.
Student groups, including the Undergraduate Student Alliance, hosted a town hall meeting Thursday to bring students, faculty and administration members together to discuss potential cuts, among other issues.
David Byelich, director of MSU’s Office of Planning and Budgets, attended the meeting to address and listen to student concerns.
He came in MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon’s place, who originally was invited to attend, but declined because of prior commitments.
Simon’s office was not contacted before advertisements for the meeting were passed out on campus, according to a letter she sent to the hosting groups.
“All members of our community have an opportunity to provide us with their input and guidance in this most challenging time,” Simon said in the letter.
Students at the meeting said regardless of any scheduling conflicts, Simon should come to the meeting and address students’ concerns.
“Faculty and the administration should serve to the needs and desires of what students want,” said Sam Inglot, a journalism sophomore and member of the alliance.
Arts and humanities junior Ruth Verdin is a member of the alliance, which was formed to bring students together to talk about concerns with the decisions being made in light of the budget.
“(We want to) take this as serious as possible so that we can have an education in a couple of years and not have a mediocre diploma,” she said.
As students raised their voices about the future of their programs, Byelich stressed the importance of continuing discussions with students and administrators.
“We’re prepared to go talk to groups like this,” he said.
Byelich said continuing to spread information about the budget process and its effects on students is important.
“Your degree and my degree mean something,” he said.
Although Verdin will finish her degree, she is concerned for students who might not have the chance to pursue those on the chopping block.
“Lucky me, but it’s not just about me it’s about the other students as well,” she said.
Byelich said the budget discussions will continue.
“We can begin at this point and we’ll do our best,” he said.
Originally Published: 12/03/09 9:37pm
We Can Begin At this Point?!
12/04/09 12:05amWTF??!!! Why would they wait til now to start? If we wouldn’t have done this, would they have never addressed us? Would they have hoped we, all MSU students would just not pay attention and let them mess with OUR university, OUR tuitions, and OUR tax dollars at their free detrimental will?
Class Act...
12/04/09 10:21amWhy is it that these groups are always full of nutters? You advertised a meeting with President Simon BEFORE EVEN ASKING HER IF SHE COULD COME?!
Seriously, who does that?
These are very tough times and they’re going to get tougher in this state. There will have to be difficult cuts. The Administration isnt a bunch of NAZIs, they’re dedicated to trying to provide the best education possible within resource constraints.
Students need to give our input because we’re a very key player in the university but for crying out loud – do it professionally and not like a bunch of idiots – it’ll be much more effective.
This was a joke
12/04/09 11:12amI went to the meeting and I must say it was a disaster. There was one student who used expletives when talking to administrators. It seemed to me that the students who put the meeting together did not want answers, but rather just wanted to hassle the administration. The group of students who put this together need to gain some composure and meeting etiquette before they attempt to have a “dialogue” with administrators again. This State News article is not reflective of what actually occurred at the meeting. I must say that even though I have many concerns about the tuition hikes and spending cuts, I was ashamed to be in attendance at the meeting due to how students were acting.
Radiohost
12/04/09 3:19pm@ Class act
Its comments like this that motivate groups like this to get the word out. Its pretty apparent you are unaware of why the university is making cuts as well as what motivates them.
Are you willing to go as far as to say the government has the best interest of its citizens in mind as well? Because this is exactly the same situation.
Unless you demand transparency, transparency will only be an illusion provided to you by the higher ups.
Regarding the emotion that was displayed by ONE person, thats to be expected when livelihoods are at stake.
Radiohost
12/04/09 3:23pm@ This was a joke
Are you aware of who the students are that put this on? I’m just curious..as we didnt wear t-shirts or introduce ourselves. There werent clearly defined rules and constraints. The opinions and questions of the audience (students and community members) were expressed in their natural form. Where else has this been an opportunity for people to actually talk with a member of the administration?
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This was a joke
12/04/09 4:36pmResponse to Radiohost:
“Questions were expressed in their natural forms”
The individual that made the comments kept on hassling the administrators when he re-entered the room. He cowardly shouted out several times and then put a handkerchief over his mouth in an attempt to hide his identity. What other reason would an individual do that other than to hassle the administrators?
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Radiohost
12/04/09 6:29pm@ Joke
Whether or not you were impressed, that is not the point. The point is, you came. It didnt matter who was on the flyer or where the flyer was, you still came.
One opinion does not represent all of the opinions.
Its unfortunate you are missing the bigger picture.
Did you stay for the entire meeting or did you leave half way through? Because there were enough people that view their education important enough that there were questions still unanswered when we closed the doors.
Darko
12/06/09 4:06pmYou idiots accomplished nothing.
So…. Maybe just stick to signing online sweatshop petitions.