University officials continue to dodge the truth to students
A fog of uncertainty surrounds the budget reduction suggestions sent to Interim University President Kathy Wilbur earlier this month.
Central Michigan Life filed 14 Freedom of Information Acts last week to several CMU budget centers, asking for the suggestions each submitted to Wilbur.
All were denied in one e-mail. CMU cited Section 13(1)(m) of the FOIA: “Communications and notes within a public body ... of an advisory nature to the extent they cover other than purely factual materials and are preliminary to a final agency determination of policy or action.”
Why hide behind administrative politics? Why not open the discussion of what should be cut to students, faculty and staff?
General counsel and Freedom of Information officer Manuel Rupe, in a letter to Central Michigan Life concerning the FOIA requests, said, “Disclosing records of those communications would prevent university officials and employees from meaningfully engaging in challenging and deliberate discussions on a complex issue.”
How so? Western Michigan University sent an e-mail to students and faculty with some of its ideas, encouraging responses.
WMU even composed a question-and-answer bulletin to let the public know about its intentions.
So what’s stopping CMU from doing the same thing and being up-front rather than being secretive?
The administrators at this university seem as if they have forgotten they serve the students.
It may come as a surprise to those in charge, but CMU is still a public institution. Students have a right to know what is being cut — they do, after all, fund roughly 66 percent of the university’s operating budget.
Show the suggestions to the students.
They’re doing their part by paying the administration’s salaries.
They have a right to know.
Let students have a say in what should stay and what should go, especially when it pertains to their education. At least hear them out.
Don’t cower behind a shroud of secrecy and reveal a plan of action without warning.
At first glance, it’s understandable that university officials would be concerned about informing the community of items slated for cut before the action is actually taken.
The concept of “being in limbo” is never an easy one.
But revealing the information is ultimately for the common good.
Any issue of this enormity deserves, at the very least, feedback from everyone involved.
These are economic times the university hasn’t seen in quite awhile.
As such, officials need to rethink their strategies.
Conducting major decisions in secrecy — much like the Board of Trustees did with the medical school and President-designate George Ross announcements — arouses instant suspicion and destroys trust.
