One Montage editor suggests better ways to solve STLCC’s financial problems
By: Kavahn Mansouri
-Art & Life Editor-
While athletes, students and staff around campus dwell on the news of further cuts to STLCC-Meramec’s once-sterling sports program, STLCC plans to cut more than $3 million from the 2012 fiscal year budget. In light of these cuts, brought on by Gov. Jay Nixon’s proposed seven percent reduction in state aid to Missouri state schools, there are better ways to solve STLCC’s financial problems.
The anger of athletes and staff members can only be re-doubled by the shocking revelation that the salary of STLCC’s chancellor, who makes more than the U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner, is receiving no reduction whatsoever.
While making these heartbreaking cuts to athletics, the thought comes to mind, why are cuts being made to the areas already effected (such as athletics) while the administration continues to hold substantial salaries and build the William J. Harrison Education Center as well as a new STLCC Corporate Center?
Keep in mind that not only athletes are affected by these cuts, but also students that attend sporting events and staff members. Athletics, Human Resources, Technology and Educational Support Services, Continuing Education, Internal Audit, the STLCC Foundation, Purchasing and Maintenance/HVAC all will be negatively impacted by the recent cuts to STLCC’s budget.
These are not just faceless departments; they are people who will lose their jobs in some cases. Meramec students and staff must demand a better solution to the financial troubles of STLCC, making cuts to already hurting departments is not the answer.
It is important that STLCC remembers these staff members are not just figures; they are people like you and me. They have families at home that rely on them to bring home the bacon so they can pay for the basic cost of living.
Administrators need to take a financial hit instead of eliminating countless jobs and sending hardworking staff members and coaches home with empty hands. Jobs will be lost, but it is important that STLCC minimizes the jobs eliminated in this period of transition.
It is my belief that instead of making cuts at the bottom, the administration should consider making a modest cut to salaries and unneeded spending, such as the new Corporate Center and the William J. Harris education center.
The fact that the vice chancellor’s salary is more than the U.S. House of Representative’s speaker of the house is shameless and shocking.
According to Nixon, programs that are low on productivity will be under review.
Eliminating departments that are struggling fixes nothing; those are the areas that are in the need of the most help. Instead of an education center, that money could have gone to improving these “struggling” academic areas.
Understandably, cuts do need to be made, the proposed seven percent reduction made to state aid forces STLCC to make financial adjustments.
We must see this from all sides, students and staff, as well as administration. Obviously, the William J. Harrison Education Center has the potential to be a very important part of North St. Louis, and as Zelema Harris said, “this center is about providing a ray of hope.”
But the timing of the spending for the center could not have come at a worse time, worsened by the announcement of a new Corporate Center.
It’s a hard fact to face, but in the end, jobs will be lost and academics will suffer. This is not the time to play the blame game, but the time to stand up as a community and demand a better solution to the financial problems faced at STLCC.
