From left to right, finance freshman Yee Ong, English freshman Ethan Daley and history freshman Emily Field listen to Jack Taylor, a graduate student in the College of Arts and Letters. Taylor was speaking to the students during a protest Thursday at the Administration Building about financial concerns within the university.
Editor’s note: The State News did not sponsor Thursday’s protest and fliers handed out with The State News logo were not created or endorsed by the newspaper.
When Fumiko Sakashita received an e-mail about upcoming budget cuts at MSU, she was in Japan searching for a job.
Sakashita, an American studies doctoral student, said the e-mail caught her off guard.
“I’m sure it was expected, but I wish there had been a meeting or a chance for us to discuss the issue,” Sakashita said.
For Sakashita, the chance to share her opinion came Thursday. She joined undergraduate students and graduate students on the steps of the Administration Building in protest of budget cuts that could eliminate faculty positions and tuition increases for all students.
The event was sponsored by Spartan Green, a student group hoping to shed light on the budget issues facing the university. Members of the group declined to comment.
About 50 university community members attended the protest.
Mark Balawender, a philosophy graduate student, attended the event because he said he would like to see a more up-front approach by the administration to explain the university’s financial situation. Balawender said the university has painted a positive image on the budget situation despite the potential job cuts and tuition increase.
“They put an optimistic picture on it, like it’s even possible,” he said.
Despite Balawender’s feelings toward the university, MSU spokesman Terry Denbow said the administration is focused on transparent discussions before budget cuts are made.
“We are going through transparent and rigorous discussions to arrive at the (budget decisions),” Denbow said. “(We will) continue and accelerate the momentum we expect and the state expects of us.”
Zoology doctoral student Julianne Heinlein said she understands the budget crisis the university is facing, but that the cuts will only hurt students.
“Things need to change,” Heinlein said. “These cuts will hurt education. … We need to cut through the bureaucracy red tape, merge administration departments and have salary deductions.”
Philosophy graduate student Anna Malavisi said she is concerned about the proposed cuts and the effects they will have on students.
“I think we should be alarmed,” she said. “Priorities aren’t being taken into account. It’s disappointing.”
Malavisi said students need to stand together and let their voices be heard, which is why events like Thursday’s protest are important to the future of the university.
“I think unity brings strength and that’s when people are going to listen to us,” Malavisi said.
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