At President Randy Dunn’s first open forum regarding the budget recommendations, students, faculty and staff filed in the Curris Center Theater to ask questions and voice their concerns.
One of the hot-ticket items among students was item number 117, which states: “Only one full-time staff member to advise Greek Affairs, Student Government Association and registered student organizations.”
This means the current full-time positions held by Jeanie Morgan and Jason Hinson-Nolen would be combined into one job.
Mary Dorr, vice president of National Pan-Hellenic Council, attended the meeting and voiced her concern over the recommendation.
She said right now the Greek adviser is working 12-15 hour days at minimal salary.
“Jason Hinson-Nolen has impacted the Greek community in ways that I could never imagine this year,” Dorr said. “He has worked diligently to improve social policies of all councils, he has implemented changes that have encouraged us to work together rather than separate, but most importantly, he truly cares about each individual member of each specific organization.”
“If Dr. Dunn’s budget recommendation 117 goes through, not only will one of these workers lose their job, but the other would be driven insane with the amount of work that would be thrust upon them,” Dorr said.
Other universities across the state such as University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Western Kentucky include their SGA with Greek Affairs. However, Murray State’s SGA entails more than just senate. Murray State’s SGA involve the Campus Activities Board, Residential Colleges and Judicial Board.
“Personally, I believe that Dr. Dunn is attacking Student Affairs because not enough students have backed him up in his renewal of contract, but if it were up to me, I would rather keep the Greek Affairs job and SGA adviser separate entities than have a jerk of a president,” Dorr said.
Dorr has also planned a picket protest at 3 p.m. today in front of Pogue Library.
Hinson-Nolen, interim Greek life coordinator, said he was excited to see students exercising their values by engaging in forums.
He said the forum demonstrated the importance of student involvement.
Kevin Coughlin, senior from Paducah, Ky., said he feels this proposed cut is extremely unnecessary, and will ultimately set back the student body.
If this recommendation were to pass, whoever is in this combined position would be in charge of senate, Campus Activity Board, Judicial Board, Residential College Association, all Greek Organizations, which includes integrating the new sorority on campus through expansion and more than 150 other student organizations.
This new position would be the direct adviser of eight organizations, and inherit responsibility for more than 120 unique campus organizations.
The total amount of budget being cut through this process is $4,500,000. This cut is only 1.11 percent of the total recommendations.
Students started a petition and as of Tuesday afternoon, it had more than 600 signatures.
Story by Meghann Anderson, News Editor.