Students protest layoffs

A meeting between Vice President of Student Affairs Kaye Patten Wallace and staffs from the Division of Student Affairs was interrupted as more than 100 students piled into the Student Union Building room 2592 yesterday at about 9 a.m.

Heads turned as students wearing their organizations' T-shirts, holding up signs such as "Retain this," "I would have transferred," "Have you ever been to our meetings? Lori has," and "Would you help us plan Songfest?" walked silently into the room, filling up every corner.

Laid off

UT President Lloyd Jacobs announced on late Sunday that 100 people will be laid off. On Tuesday, six individuals out of about 100 staff from the Division of Student Affairs were told they were among those who will lose their jobs in 90 days.

They are Director of Student Involvement Lori Edgeworth, Assistant Director of Student Activities and Leadership Jacquelyn Jones, Director of Multicultural Student Services Nina Grant, Assistant Director of Student Judicial Affairs Terry Teagarden, Assistant Director of Student Activities and Leadership Development Ricardo Reddick and Executive Assistant to the Vice President Chris Giordano.

Teagarden has served UT for the last 21 years and said he was never under the impression that any specific department would be spared from the layoffs.

"I never felt invulnerable, because I believe every position is expendable," he said.

Students' testimonials

David Gulley, a senior majoring in individualized studies, said his involvement in Student Judicial Affairs, Alpha Phi Alpha and the Office of Student Involvement had led to positive experiences with those individuals affected by the layoff.

"Lori Edgeworth, Jackie Jones, Terry Teagarden and Nina Grant, who anytime you walk into their office, needed anything, they broke their necks, stayed here after 5 o'clock to make sure the job got done - whether it's for Dance Marathon, Songfest, Homecoming - They work tireless hours," Gulley said.

Emily Duerringer, a senior majoring in psychology who is involved in Blue Key, Mortar Board, Dance Marathon, the Delta Delta Delta Sorority and UT Ambassadors, had worked closely with those individuals as well.

"They have 100 percent been student-centered; they have 100 percent been advocates for the students, and when you take away these four people, you take away the student's voice as far as our organizations go," she said. "We're pissed, we're mad, we're upset; this is absolutely outrageous."

Teagarden, however, saw the situation in a more positive way.

"I've had a great ride and look forward to my next adventure," he said.

The process of budget cuts

Patten Wallace explained that each vice president was asked to come up with budget scenarios representing 7 percent and 15 percent cuts in their areas. The senior staffs of each division, consisting of Patten Wallace, Interim Dean of Students Michele Martinez, Director of Residence Life Jo Campbell and Senior Business Manager Marcia Culling, looked at every position, responsibilities, the remaining staff and made sure they had staff on board to continue to carry out those responsibilities.

"We want them to know that they are very valuable, but this is totally a business-driven decision, and what we have to focus on now is restructuring in a manner so we can live up to the commitment we're making to students - that is to have an effective, efficient and productive services to them that will be nothing less than what they're used to," Patten Wallace said.

Patten Wallace said she assured students none of the student services and programs will be cut.

The Division of Student Affairs had about $1 million in cuts, which constitutes about 5 percent of their budget.

Students joined forces

A student leader sent out a mass e-mail on Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. regarding the layoffs. After about an hour, over 200 student leaders showed up in the Student Union Building Auditorium to discuss the termination of Edgeworth, to encourage student leaders to submit letters to support a reconsideration of the layoffs and to create plans to attend the Student Affairs staff meeting on Wednesday.

Student leaders emphasized the importance of approaching this issue as professionally as possible and stressed that students should drop the mentality that their actions will not make a difference.

"We're going to be there; we're not going to be crazy, rioting, but simply saying that we care, this does affect us," said Breanne Democko, a senior majoring political science and public administration, who was a former SG vice president and is involved in multiple student organizations.

"The students have a tremendous impact on decisions around the university, and I'm sure their voice will be heard and whatever effect it may have, who knows," said Teagarden, who also said he did not witness the protest, but had heard about it.

President of UT's Communication Workers of America Chapter Robert Hull said he spotted the group of students in the middle of the Centennial Mall early Wednesday.

"These are the clients; the students are the reasons the administrators have a job, so it should be effective," he said. "If they pay no attention to this, it's time to remove the administration because these students are the reason why the administration is here."

He added the CWA has lost 22 employees from the layoff this week.

"This is an extremely difficult time at the university, and it's extremely difficult for us to have to make these decisions," Patten Wallace said. "It's really hard to say goodbye to people who we have worked with for years and people who have been valuable contributors to the university ... I think it's important to allow the staffs and the students to go through that grieving process," she said.

Students organized protest

After witnessing the students' presence, listening to Jones and Reddick speak and listening to current SG President Kyrstal Weaver's speech at the end of the Division of Student Affairs staff meeting, the staff left the room teary-eyed and gave hugs to each other.