Press Release

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAVING EDUCATION, JOBS, AND COMMUNITY AT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
PROTESTS AND FOOD DRIVES PLANNED IN FACE OF LAYOFFS

PULLMAN, WA MARCH 31, 2009 -- Students, staff, and faculty at Washington State University will rally on Terrell Mall at noon this Thursday, April 2, to show their support for members of the WSU community in programs that are expected to be cut in the coming round of steep budget reductions.

Faced with a legislature-mandated cut of between 18 and 20%, WSU administrators have stated their preference for "vertical" cuts of entire programs rather than "horizontal" cuts to pay. Horizontal pay cuts or furloughs on a sliding scale, preferred by many faculty and staff as the fairest solution, would maintain existing programs and allow all to remain employed--a primary concern, organizers say, in an economic climate that makes the loss of a job and health benefits a dire prospect for many. Local businesses in this small university community are also at risk.

Further details of WSU's administrative strategies for reduced spending remain under wraps until the state budget is finalized. Faculty members and staff have objected to a lack of transparency in budget deliberations so far.

Rally organizers stress that students at WSU can expect five significant changes when they return in the fall: tuition will be higher, they will probably have to pay a special fee on enrollment, there will be fewer classes, there will be fewer teachers, and those classes that remain will be either larger or considerably more difficult to enroll in.

Program cuts as well as the reorganization of surviving programs are likely to slice deeply into three categories of employees: staff, contingent faculty, and tenure track faculty. Since reductions are projected to be permanent, rally organizers note that vertical cuts and layoffs of teaching faculty and staff in vulnerable groups represent a significant and detrimental change in the way WSU approaches education--particularly the education of undergraduates.

The Young Democrats, a student group, is also sponsoring a food drive on Friday, April 3, from 11 to 1, on the Terrell Mall. The purpose of the drive is to build up reserves at a local food bank in anticipation of requests from laid-off faculty and staff.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Elizabeth Siler, Asst. Clinical Prof. of English and Jana Argersinger, Editor
Department of English, Avery Hall
Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164
Email: mejia@wsu.edu/ argerj@wsu.edu Cellular: 509-432-9694/208-301-2955

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