Over 120 students entered ASAC 100 looking for answers Monday night to the rumors regarding potential faculty and staff cuts, and a panel of deans and faculty were there to respond.
Emotions ran high as student after student talked about the professors who impacted their educations – professors who may be on the chopping block as Lyndon State College searches for ways to avoid the $700,000 deficit it finds itself in.
“I’m a graphic design and digital media major with a minor in photography,” said Jillyan Newell, adding that the graphic used by the panel was her creation. “[I made it] in Dr. Philip J. Parisi’s class. I have heard that he is going to be cut and forced into retirement and I was not happy to hear that. And just so you know, I’m now questioning whether I want to graduate from this school.”
“Nobody else could do the job they do,” psychology major Johanna Trottier said of Meri Stiles and Peggy Sherrer, both professors in the department.
The panel, made up of Jim Bozeman, the chair of the faculty committee, David Johnston, the chair of the faculty federation, Dean of Institutional Advancement Bob Whittaker, Dean of Administration Wayne Hamilton, and President Carol Moore over the phone, answered questions students had regarding the current budget situation.
“There is just a lot of pressure across the country on higher ed right now,” Hamilton said, adding that at LSC, “There is a serious concern about affordability.”
Moore added that cutting faculty and staff will not affect the quality of education students get at LSC.
“We’re quite confident that we will be able to maintain the quality of our programs,” she said.
President of the Student Government Association John Kleinhans ended the meeting by suggesting students work together to speak to government officials in Montpelier next week.