UNL faculty hosting funeral procession, rallies ahead of Board of Regents vote on cuts

University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty are participating in a “Week of Action” ahead of Friday’s Board of Regents vote on a budget proposal that would eliminate four programs on the Lincoln campus. The programs being considered are earth and atmospheric sciences, statistics, educational administration and textiles, merchandising and fashion design.

Events for the week include:

• Dec. 1: “Stop the Cuts” phone bank
• Dec. 2: Sign making at the UNL City Campus Union from 1-3 p.m.
• Dec. 3: “Stop the Cuts” jazz funeral procession starting outside East Memorial Stadium from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Dec. 4: Rallies at the UNL City Campus Plaza and East Campus Union Plaza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Dec. 5: Board of Regents meeting

Sarah Zuckerman, president of the UNL chapter of the American Association of University Professors, said professors want to shed light on what’s happening at the university and remind Nebraskans of the vote on Friday. She said the potential cuts are detrimental to the university and the state.

“Every department brings value to the university, and that value isn't necessarily always dollars and cents, although each of the units for elimination does bring in dollars,” Zuckerman said. “But the value is, in terms of preparing people for careers, there's a growth in the retail industry. That's what our textiles department helps fill those jobs. Earth and Atmospheric Sciences fills all kinds of jobs across the state in geology and meteorology.”

Professors have criticized the budget reduction process, saying it lacked transparency and faculty input. In November, the UNL Faculty Senate overwhelmingly approved a no-confidence resolution in Chancellor Rodney Bennett, The resolution was created partly because of the proposed budget cuts.

The jazz funeral procession, Zuckerman said, is both a way to bring some joyful music after a long semester while also recognizing the potential loss of four departments.

“In my mind, it's like the Ghost of Christmas Future in Ebenezer Scrooge, like this could be our future,” Zuckerman said. “We could have fewer and fewer offerings at UNL, which is going to make it less attractive to students, which is going to be the slow death. But we still have time to turn this around and to tell the Board of Regents to vote against these cuts.”

Zuckerman said the AAUP hopes to build support from students, whose learning will be impacted by the cuts, and the public throughout this week.

“The Board of Regents are elected, they are answerable to the public,” Zuckerman said. “They need to pay attention and hold that into account when they're doing things that's not in the best interest of the university.”