The Journal

Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Mario Ulibarri Vice President of Students and Enrollment Management Deborah Dey explains that the budget cuts were restored and congratulates students for "raising hell" in the UC Sunnen Lounge Nov. 22. [Click to enlarge]

Students planning to rant about budget cuts at a Student Government Association (SGA) meeting Nov. 22 were pleasantly surprised when Vice President of Enrollment Deborah Dey announced that the administration decided to put the students' needs at the top of their list. The budget for student employment has been restored by 100 percent and programming has been restored by 80 percent.

The university had planned to cut student programming funds because of a $6 million budget shortfall that affected Webster University campuses worldwide. But because of the students' protesting, programming funds were restored.

"I think it's great you raised hell," said Dey to the group of students who attended the meeting.

After the initial announcement of the restoration of funding, students launched into a Q-and-A session. The first question came from SGA Vice President Devon Schwab, who asked that if funding for employment and programming has been restored, then where are cuts going to be made?

Dey said nothing will be completely cut, but small cuts will be made here and there. Dey added that some budgets that were at 100 percent would be shaved off by 2 percent here, or 5 percent there.

Dey said she didn't think any changes would be noticeable because the administration tried very hard to just cut things that go on in the background. Dey said the people who work for Webster will see the changes, not necessarily the students. For example, faculty and staff will cut back on traveling and positions that become empty may not be filled right away.

Energy saving policies will be reviewed and Dey said all new buildings on campus will be equipped with energy-saving materials, and that the only changes will be that some building lights will be turned off sooner. Dey said the people who work at Webster might feel a little more pressure because they have fewer colleagues to work with.

Continued...

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