Union Advocating for Students in Budget Cut Process

Posted on Wed. 04 Feb, 2009 to 1

February 4, 2009

The Student Union has been working tirelessly to serve the student body as the University navigates through the current fiscal crisis.

The University is facing a large budget shortfall. Tough decisions will have to be made and cuts are inevitable. The Union understands that the University must reorganize and protect itself during these hard times. However, the Union believes that transparency, communication, and student involvement are key as we move forward. Union President Jason Gray has been engaged in close negotiations with top administrators for weeks about student involvement in the process. Union representatives have spoken with many students who have felt left out of the process or kept in the dark. The Union has made your feelings clear to the University Administration, and we are proud to report that Administrators may be changing the way they do business.

First of all, the decision to end the portability of merit-aid scholarships for use with study abroad programs struck us all as a surprise. We understand that the fewer students who go abroad, the more money saved by the University. However, since students who received merit-aid scholarships were specifically told they could use their aid for study abroad in their acceptance letter, the Union believes that the University must keep its promise. While we expect the new abroad policies to apply to incoming students, we expect that the decision on merit-aid portability for current students will be overturned sometime in the next week.

Secondly, we are surprised and saddened to hear of the decision to close the Rose Art Museum and sell the art collection. The Union had no prior knowledge of this decision and was alerted by email along with the entire Student Body.

On Tuesday evening, a discussion took place between Union President Jason Gray and University President Jehuda Reinharz. During the meeting Gray requested that there be more communication and dialogue between President Reinharz, EVP French, and the student body regarding budget cuts. President Reinharz agreed to hold an open forum with students the following day that included a presentation on the university’s budget shortfall and plan to close the gap. Over 250 students attend the forum, which we consider to be a success given the short notice and snowstorm.

The Administration has agreed to hold another forum of a similar nature with President Reinharz, EVP French, and Provost Krauss next Thursday, February 5th, at 5:00 PM in Levin Ballroom.

After continued lobbying by The Union, Provost Marty Krauss and Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe have agreed to invite Jason Gray to serve as a non-voting member on the Steering Committee on Academic Restructuring. Previously student representation was not expected to be allowed on this committee.

Furthermore, the Union has secured student representation on all of the five Academic Restructuring sub-committees. The applications for these committess were sent out by President Gray the morning of Thursday January 29th. The applications were reviewed by Anum Khan, the Union’s Director of Academic Affairs, Adam Ross, Chair of the Provost’s Student Advisory Committee, and Union President Gray. This selection committee nominated ten student representatives to the Union Senate for confirmation this Sunday night, February 1st. All were confirmed unanimously.

Third Semester/Experiential Learning

➢ Lydia Flier ‘11

➢ Lev Hirschhorn ‘11

Degree Requirements and Advising

➢ Matthew Shear ‘11

➢ Ron Kendler ‘09

➢ Ryan McElhaney ‘09

Admissions and Recruiting

➢ Mariel Gruszko ‘10

➢ Jamie Fleishman ‘11

➢ Justin Sulsky ‘09

Business Major

➢ Murat Kemahlioglu ‘10

➢ Matthew Wright

The Union will continue to advocate for student involvement in the budget cut process, and will work to keep the student body as informed as possible.

For more information, contact James Ansorge, the Union's Director of Communications, at UnionCommunications@brandeis.edu.

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