Faculty, students and staff at a budget forum Friday talked mostly about what they hope to preserve at Ohio University, as the school faces at least 15 percent budget cuts over the next two years, and planned to make concrete proposals to top administrators.
More than 80 people attended the forum last week, which was sponsored by Future OU, the Faculty and Student Senates and the OU chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
While many of the speakers raised different issues they would prioritize in budget planning, the group concluded that they were generally talking about a unique spirit at OU.
I do not know how to quantify it
said David Thomas, vice chairman of Faculty Senate. (But) we cannot lose this magic - this magic that is Ohio University.
The theme of last week's forum - the first of a series - focused on what attendees value about OU. But Steve Hays, a faculty senator and one of the forum's organizers, told everyone that Friday's meeting was just the first step.
Future OU is soliciting thoroughly researched proposals for budget cuts to present to OU's top administrators.
We've got to come up with new ways of thinking and we've got to argue them in hard-nosed ways Hays said. What we can't do is just stand on the tracks and say 'Damn
there's a train coming.'
Future OU is asking for budget proposal submissions within the next month or so. Hays said he knows OU's administrators will be making preliminary recommendations - based on scenarios each planning unit will submit today - Feb. 15 but that he hopes any reasonable proposals will be considered.
I have confidence in our administrators that if we come up with an idea that wins broad support ... that they'll reconsider
Hays said.
The provost did not say concretely whether she would consider proposals after the Feb. 15 deadline, but said that she hopes the best information and options will be used when making final decisions.
What I am most concerned about is that all of us are able to look back on the process and say that we based our decisions on the best data possible
understood the potential consequences of our choices
clearly communicated the rationale for our recommendations
and were mindful of the respect that belongs to each member of our community
said Pam Benoit, OU's executive vice president and provost, through a spokeswoman.
While faculty and students dominated Friday's discussion, the group also heard from Dave Logan, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1699, and Patricia Scott, the mother of a prospective out-of-state student.
Logan told the group that cuts in the past few years, which have eliminated about 15 percent of the union's workers, have been disastrous but that he doesn't think there's an easy answer.
I think we've made all the cuts we can make in our area
but I don't want to stand up here and say
'OK
