Tell trustees how you’d erase CMU’s deficit
The budget crisis is upon us. You might not realize it, but this university’s budget is in the toilet to the tune of $7.3 million.
I know what you’re thinking. How is there a budget crisis when we continue to paint new bike path lines across campus and faculty and senior administrators continue to travel from sea to shining sea on weekend conferences, at the expense of the general fund?
I’m serious. This place is in trouble.
If students and faculty thought losing a few temporary faculty, Japanese classes, the CLAS Testing Center, library periodicals, the maroon/gold bus service line and paper tuition bills sent home was bad, wait until late August when the majority of students and faculty return to find that their favorite maintenance worker or secretary may no longer be there.
Next Thursday, the Board of Trustees will gather to hammer out a few of this university’s hot topics.
But administrations officials admit, nothing short of raising room and board will be discussed.
The board is still waiting until the July meeting to make decisions regarding the field-less women’s field hockey team, President Michael Rao said Tuesday.
Students and faculty who are tenured or don’t fear retaliation for speaking out can still speak their mind.
With that in mind, I want to steal an idea from our friends in the Student Government Association.
Instead of spending your weekend nights writing members of the Republican-controlled state Legislature or our distant governor, why not write your friendly trustees and tell them what YOU think should be done to eliminate this $7.3 million deficit?
The following are the names, occupations, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of each board member:
Jerry D. Campbell
Chairman of the Board
Republic Bancorp Inc.
122 S. Main St., Suite 110
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 913-2231
campb1jd@cmich.edu
Jeffrey R. Caponigro
President and CEO
Caponigro Public Relations Inc.
4000 Town Center, Suite 1750
Southfield, MI 48075-1427
(248) 355-3200
capon1jr@cmich.edu
Stephanie Comai
Consultant
Comai Consulting, LLC
1216 Glen Leven Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
comai1s@cmich.edu
James C. Fabiano Sr., chairman
President and CEO
Fabiano Brothers, Inc.
1219 N. Mission
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
(989) 773-3605
fabia1c@cmich.edu
Melanie R. Foster
2561 Meadow Wood Drive
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 339-2480
foste1mr@cmich.edu
Roger Kessler
(Retired Vice President and Controller, The Dow Chemical Company)
2108 Mapleleaf Drive
Midland, MI 48640
(989) 839-9332
kesse1rl@cmich.edu
John G. Kulhavi, vice chairman
Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch
Triatria Building, Suite 260
Farmington Hills, MI 48334-1566
(248) 737-6222
kulha1jg@cmich.edu
Gail F. Torreano
President
SBC Michigan
201 N. Washington Square, Suite 920
Lansing, MI 48933
(313) 223-7171
torre1gf@cmich.edu
Chad Livengood can be reached for comment at liven1cj@cmich.edu.
