Cut positions lead to confusion

Wilder staff loses three, students meet wikth Cole-Newkirk to protest cuts

Students working for the Wilder Student Union met with Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk on Thursday concerning the recent positions cut.

The changes were made May 3. Administrative assistant Beth Livermore and Information Desk manager Gail Johns's positions have been eliminated. Director of Student Union Operations Michele Gross has been moved from working as director of operations to directing Conference Services.

These cuts were among several made late last week. President Nancy Dye said they were the last of the nearly 40 position cuts that came as part of a $3.2 million budget reduction this year. About 25 of those positions were eliminated through lay-offs. The rest were reduced through attrition.

In a letter dated Tuesday, 26 students asked for Cole-Newkirk to meet with them. The students explained that they wanted to meet in order to hear an explanation of why the recent cuts were made and for her to outline to the students' plans for the Student Union in the future.

The letter also expressed the students' dissatisfaction with Cole-Newkirk's recent staffing cuts. The letter stated, "Not only are we disappointed with the fact that you have failed to explain this decision, we are also disgusted with the manner in which these decisions have been executed." Cole-Newkirk met with students two days after the letter.

Ji Young Um, a college senior, said, "It was a crazy meeting."

College sophomore Ellyn Stewart said that the cuts and Gross's move "broke up our [Wilder staff] family."

Throughout the meeting, people were emotionally upset, according to Stewart. She said that some students were even in tears.

Stewart said she was disappointed in the decision-making process, for the cuts and move especially, for not including student input about the changes.

Angela Roberts, a college sophomore, felt that Cole-Newkirk's statements during the meeting were vague. Roberts said she thinks that Cole-Newkirk's vision for the union change is very hazy. In the meeting, Roberts said that Cole-Newkirk told students they can e-mail her over the summer about their concerns and keep in touch with her about her plans for the Student Union. Roberts said, however, that Cole-Newkirk is "trying to please us and she really doesn't know how."

Um said, "Next year, it is going to be incredibly chaotic. I don't know who can take up the responsibilities."

Um said that she understands the budget crunch that the college is trying to deal with.

Roberts said, "Job losses are going to affect every student and student organization." She said she believes that the Student Union is not going to run as well because of the positions that were cut and the moving of Gross.

"Charlene doesn't have a plan yet to compensate for the loss of their jobs. She should have thought of that before, before she got rid of these people," Roberts said.

Assistant Director of the Student Union Conference Center Christopher Baymiller said, "We're distressed to lose anyone at the union."

He said that Livermore, Johns and Gross have been vital to the student union for years.

Baymiller said, "No one wants to see anyone cut."

Students are planning to meet with President Nancy Dye Tuesday to further discuss the cuts and moved position as well as the future of the Wilder Student Union.