Student, Faculty groups respond to termination of department

The Academic Planning Group's decision to potentially cut the Department of Economics from the College of Business is still causing heated reactions from both student and faculty groups.

A student response group has submitted a petition signed by various members of the College of Business to University President Martha Saunders. They are requesting she delay the termination until an open forum is held to assess the case.

Zach Mansell, an economics major from St. Louis, is one of the students who drafted the petition.

"When I first heard about the decision to cut the program, I was shocked," he said. "Mainly because I hadn't been formerly informed about it through the university, but also because this was such a drastic step."

Mansell said represented in the letter is every major from the College of Business, including 22 of the 24 residents of the new Honors Business House.

Coralie Rose, a senior chemistry and philosophy major from Jackson, heard about the planned cut from one of her professors. Though she has no connection to the College of Business, she has paired with Mansell to generate more student involvement.

"When I found out about the economics department I thought it was terrible," she said. "I think it matters to everybody if they cut an extremely important discipline from a university that's supposed to be a research institution," Rose said.

The student group plans to hold a silent demonstration in front of the Administration Building Monday at 9 a.m. – the time the cabinet is scheduled to hear appeals to the budget cuts.

Rose said students from any discipline are encouraged to join on Monday. Her goal is to show support for the economics department in a "professional and peaceful way."

Both the American Association of University Professors and the Faculty Senate have submitted letters to USM President Martha Saunders. Each calls for her to revoke the decision to cut the department.

Mark Klinedinst, President of the USM chapter of the AAUP, said the organization voted overwhelmingly in support of the economics department.

The statement presented to Saunders asserts the time allotted to make the cuts was not enough. It also raises questions as to whether or not the Academic Planning Group followed due process, legally required by the state, in eliminating tenured professors.

The Faculty Senate response echoes this concern, saying, "…many felt that the process for reaching the recommendation of elimination of the Economics Programs was flawed." 

The cabinet will hear appeals Monday and must make the final decision before Sept. 1.