Earlier this week, The Post ran an article that informed me that this year’s raises for the 10 highest-paid administrators at Ohio University would total nearly half of $1 million. To put it lightly, I was outraged.
Last year, I took part in protests and actions in an effort to stop the tuition hikes that I and many of my fellow students felt were inevitable if the student body, as a whole, did not speak loudly and clearly against them. Despite our efforts, the Board of Trustees chose to raise the tuition by the maximum legal amount. We were told that the board did not take this decision lightly, implying the necessity of these increases.
In addition to my student activism, I was the senator for the Honors Tutorial College. As a senator, I was told by Pam Benoit and Stephen Golding that if tuition was not raised by the maximum legal amount, Ohio University would be in a dire situation. There would be a reduction in faculty in addition to utilities costs for the use of facilities like Alden, Grover and Baker, which would make it impossible for these buildings to maintain operations. The administration can and has denied that Student Senate was told this, but I assure you that we have the minutes to prove that this was said.
This tuition hike then went on to fund the massive raises. It utterly baffles me that a university that is, apparently, in such a dire financial situation can afford this increase in spending. Apparently, since April, we have dug ourselves out of a fiscal hole and can now afford to reward our administrators for their stewardship.
As a student, I am furious that the cost of my education has increased while spending at this university has become less student-centered. As an activist, I am disappointed that the voice of students was disregarded. As a member of student government, I am beyond shocked that administrators are more than willing to lie to those of us who are elected to represent students. This is an insult to every person involved in the Ohio University community. Faculty, students and staff should see this as a personal slight.
I want to encourage anyone who is bothered by this negligence to attend Student Senate meetings and speak out against the administration. We meet on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in Walter 235. My fellow members of senate and I hope to see you there.
Jared Henderson is the Academic Affairs Commissioner for Student Senate.
