Members of various Ohio University constituent groups discussed a perceived lack of communication across the university at a news conference yesterday hosted by the Student Union.
The panelists said all constituent groups are poorly represented in university decisions. About eight people attended the conference outside of Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
I believe students have no say in anything that goes on on campus
and we are the only group that pays to go here said Roger Stykes, a senior and spokesman for the
Student Union.
Faculty unionization would give faculty a more powerful voice within the university, said Dave Logan, president of the local chapter of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
This university is so afraid of unions we don't have a student union - we have Baker University Center
Logan said
The panelists also expressed concern about the increasing number of administrators and administrative salaries.
Paying administrators more than $100,000 a year is illogical because they are not the people teaching students, Stykes said, also citing a student vote of no confidence for President Roderick McDavis two years ago.
I think that lots of things have come to light because of this economic crisis
including the lack of democratic process here at OU
Stykes said.
Panelists endorsed alternatives to layoffs, such as mandatory pay cuts.
In a time of economic crisis
there is a need for shared sacrifice as well as shared decision making
said Michael Lachman, a staff accompanist for the School of Dance, adding he would take a 5 percent pay cut willingly rather than have the university lay off employees.
The OU Student Union is holding a rally at 8 p.m. on April 23 by the Civil War monument on College Green to show student concern about the state of the university.
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