UNL professors launch Week of Action ahead of vote on $27.5 million budget cuts

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – As the University of Nebraska Board of Regents prepares for the final vote on proposed budget cuts, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln chapter of the American Association of University Professors launched a Week of Action.

Professor Theresa Catalano has been in the AAUP for seven years and says Tuesday’s poster-making campaign is just one way teachers are standing up for education.

“We do hope that it ends up with them voting against the changes and giving us more time to come up with alternative solutions,” she said. “That’s part of the critique, is that there hasn’t been enough time for faculty to respond, and there hasn’t been enough input from the faculty. We want shared governance, which means we have a voice that actually matters.”

The week started with a phone bank, and today, making posters to hold up during rallies and protests scheduled over the next two days.

The proposed cuts would eliminate four departments and risk the jobs of nearly 120 UNL faculty, but teachers aren’t the only ones planning to protest.

SEE ALSO: UNL submits final $27.5 million budget reduction plan to NU Board of Regents for review

Charles Moloney is a master’s student at UNL.

“I’ve been personally very upset about the budget cuts,” he said. “This is not the first time that the university has cut programs that students, staff, and faculty alike all hold dear.”

He also said this time, there is more to it.

“I have frustrations with our current chancellor, Rodney Bennett. He has not shown up to student-organized meetings,” said Moloney, also criticizing the chancellor for “not communicating effectively with the faculty.”

SEE ALSO: UNL Faculty Senate overwhelmingly passes vote of no confidence against Chancellor Bennett

This perspective appears to be shared by many, as it led to the Nov. 18 vote of no confidence in Chancellor Bennet, citing a lack of transparency regarding the budget crisis.

“Enough is enough, and we’re pretty much fed up with everything that’s been going on,” said Moloney.

The posters made during the campaign will be used starting Wednesday, when the group has organized a “Stop the Cuts” Jazz funeral procession, and again on Thursday at the planned “Pack the Boardroom” rally.

The posters will be used for the final time on Friday, just one hour before the board takes a final vote.

Crystal Garcia, an Associate Professor in Educational Administration, says this ‘Week of Action’ is already having an impact.

“Being in an affected department, it’s been tough, but having community through the AAUP and being in solidarity has meant a lot,” she said.

The group has a contact form where you can register to attend any event this week here.