Note: CGE is posting this press release from the OSU chapter of the American Association of University Professors unedited. We encourage everyone – graduate employees, faculty, staff, students and community members – to attend the talk. You’ll notice we’re listed a sponsor, and the reason for that is that we support independent efforts to create discussions about the future of OSU that involve as many people and groups as possible.
PRESS RELEASE
Contact Information: Joseph Orosco, 541-908-9050, joseph.orosco@oregonstate.edu
For Immediate Release
State legislators warn of impending economic problems as Oregon faces a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, and higher education officials, including those at Oregon State University, are calling for major university reorganization to deal with the shortfall. But one independent analyst has been travelling the country, raising questions as to whether universities are really going to be hit with financial crisis. His answer is that on many campuses, the story of a crisis is a myth. He has now conducted a review of Oregon universities and will present his findings about the health of OSU’s budget.
Howard Bunsis, a professor of accounting at Eastern Michigan University, has completed an independent audit of OSU’s revenues and expenditures and will share the results at two public forums in Corvallis. His presentation “Follow the Money: An Independent Analysis of the OSU Budget” will take place on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 12 noon in the Memorial Union Room 208/La Raza on the OSU campus. The second presentation for the greater Corvallis community will be later that same day at 6 pm in the Corvallis Odd Fellows Barnum Lodge at 223 SW Second Street in Corvallis.
All across the country, Bunsis has heard university officials tell the same story: the troubled economy requires program reductions and eliminations, employee layoffs, faculty furloughs, and tuition increases. Bunsis claims that these responses are not justified: “Administrations are using the national economic crisis as an excuse to make educational cuts that are not necessary or warranted.” In many large public universities, revenues have actually grown because of increased tuition dollars. Bunsis maintains: “It is time for our country to accurately direct its priorities. The economic situation has resulted in people returning to colleges and universities in far greater numbers than ever before. The prospect of an appropriately and competitively educated work force shows greater promise for our nation’s long-term viability. As we respond to that influx of students, let us focus on quality higher education, taught by competent and adequately appreciated faculty members.”
Bunsis’s presentations are sponsored by the OSU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, the Associated Students of Oregon State University, the Coalition of Graduate Employees, American Federation of Teachers Local 6069, the Service Employees International Union, Local 083, and the Corvallis Odd Fellows Barnum Lodge # 7.