In an effort to reduce spending from the endowment, the University will postpone for a year its plans to hire eight new social science professors and to improve financial aid for the lowest income students.
These are significant issues that affect students in a profound way. Because we do not have a complete understanding of the administration’s financial situation, it is the University’s responsibility to justify its decisions when they have potential to affect a large portion of the student body.
Technically the University is not cutting funding, but rather delaying the addition of further funds. On the other hand, a substantial number of professors in the government and history departments are retiring and going on sabbatical next year. As it is, social science majors have a harder time than many of their peers finding thesis advisors and classes with available seats. The administration’s decision will only exacerbate what is sure to be a trying year for social science majors. And improving financial aid for students in the lowest income bracket is crucial as well. Postponing these changes for even one year is bad enough, but the University must indeed resume its implementation of the Strategic Plan by the 2007-2008 school year. These changes cannot be continually pushed back year after year, as is often the case for necessary improvements.
Finally, we have known the administration to declare drastic changes in policy after classes end, when it’s less convenient for students to mobilize in possible protest and the final issue of the Argus has been published. In the past, the administration has instituted a chalking ban and changed its stand on gender neutral housing. Other sudden decisions have included the cessation of intro language and sign language classes. Just as we recommend that the administration be more transparent regarding financial decisions, we hope that it maintains its commitment to dialogue.
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