Students of the College of Arts & Sciences issued the following press release. Supporting documents will be posted as they become available.
University of Toledo Students Share FOIA Findings And Announce Their Demands
Organized student protesters announce demands that must be met to bring their actions to an end
July 17, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Evan Morrison, 419.283.7244
Toledo, OH –Today, Thursday, July 17th, students will voice their demands to halt the dismantling of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and the Jacobs agenda at a press conference at 3:30 P.M. during a rally in front of the UT Health Education building. (Health Science Campus, lawn facing Transverse Drive.)
“We have uncovered evidence showing administrators discussing in blunt terms their goals for the elimination of departments at UT,” says Evan Morrison, a History major. “Students will act to ensure our programs are not dismantled.”
Student protest this summer led to the halting of mergers that were planned to conclude by July 1st, mergers that many saw as ill-conceived attempts to weaken faculty and eviscerate long-standing academic programs to save money. “Millions of dollars have been cut from the budget for our college in the past four years,” says Art and Film major Meg Sciarini.(Sha-rini) “How much more slicing can we endure?” Information found in the FOIA request shows that the mandated 10% departmental cuts are described as “Conversation Starters,” which lead many to believe that even more drastic cuts are planned.
Despite evidence showing the college of Arts and Sciences bringing in revenue in the tens of millions of dollars for the University every school year and growing in every school year reviewed, the discussion amongst high level administrators is to “decide which areas should be fully funded, and which areas should not be funded at all.”
Following the press conference, students will attend a Town Hall Meeting being hosted by President Jacobs at the Health Education Building and present to the President the issues that they feel must be addressed.
Information cited comes from “The College of Arts and Sciences: Budget Hearing, Strategic Planning and Prioritization;” Board of Trustees “FY 2009 Budget Strategies and Assumptions;” and Senior Leadership “Transformational Budgeting.” Copies of the documents cited and others will be available at the press conference.
What: Press Conference held by University of Toledo Students
Where: Health Education Building, Health Science Campus Lot 43
When: Today, Thursday, July 17th, 2008, 3:30 P.M. (prior to 4 P.M. Town Hall Meeting with UT President Lloyd Jacobs)
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1 comment:
Dr. Lee's transition is, I think, a reasonable response to a troubling situation, and I join the others of you in wishing him all the best in his new job. The domestic partnership development is also positive. But don't start celebrating too early or too heartily: look at the time frame, see when these developments took place, and keep in mind that one of this administration's favorite--and most effective--strategies is distract and conquer. Those of you who have issues to present at the Town Hall meeting today--or any other time: Keep your eyes on the prize of the forest, and don't get caught up in the trees that have been or may still be set up to divide your attention and sidetrack you.
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