Though information on the University’s budget concerns is still sparse, the Staff Senate finds itself questioning the best role to play in the ongoing financial uncertainty.
The looming budget reduction was again one of the most important topics at the Senate’s meeting, joined this time by a vote on a parking-related resolution and a presentation on the celebration of the University’s sesquicentennial— its 150-year anniversary.Staff Senate President Patricia Beste expressed the importance of the staff finding its niche in the adjustment of the University’s budget. She said there is a question of how high profile the staff should be concerning the budget.
“The staff are employees of the legislature and aren’t usually supposed to lobby them or make statements to the public,” Beste said.But this situation is unique, Beste said, and the staff will definitely play a role in budget revision. The question is whether their actions will be “big and public.”Beste stressed the potential magnitude of the cuts and what they could mean to the University’s progress.”[The University] is on the brink of being everything we’ve dreamed of,” Beste said. “This cut could set us back 20 years. We don’t want that when we’re so close to being so good.”Staff members sang praise for Chancellor Michael Martin and his openness as the budget situation progresses.”The chancellor has been an open book,” Beste said. “He knows the University isn’t about him; it’s about everyone.”Senator Donna Torres of Accounting Services said she is impressed with the chancellor’s involvement during budgetary concerns.”[Martin] is real,” Torres said. “He’s not sitting in an ivory tower.”Beste asked members of the Senate to suggest ideas on what actions the staff should take regarding the budget, emphasizing that Martin wants the staff to have a voice in any decisions.
The staff also unanimously passed a resolution regarding parking. The resolution seeks to acquire a pro-rated parking fee for facility workers who work at night and may only be parked on campus during the last hour of Easy Streets lockdown.These workers are currently paying half of the parking fee but only parking in a reserved lot for a small amount of time, said Chad Gothreaux, Staff Senate president-elect.The resolution will now be sent to the provost for approval.Rusty Jabour, vice chancellor of Communications and University Relations, spoke to the group. Jabour also serves as co-chair of the Sesquicentennial Committee and spoke about plans for celebrations in 2010.Some of the projects in the works include LSU Serves the World, a Web site honoring service by members of the University community worldwide, and LSU Day, a festival that allows the public to “see, explore and discover LSU.”
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Contact Ryan Buxton at [email protected]