Gibralter's Convocation: Less Money, Mo' Problems
Andy Kotch
Issue date: 10/7/09 Section: News
On Tuesday, September 29th, Dr. Gibralter masterfully played his audience, bouncing back and forth from good news to bad news over the hour-long presentation. One recurring theme was obvious, though; most of the bad news was financial.
A crowd of over 100 staffers and students crowded into the Pealer Recital Hall to hear the President give an effective State of the Union style address. Unlike last year, the student turn-out was surprisingly high. Also of note was the fact that FSU's new logo, which was one of the biggest announcements at last year's convocation, was nowhere to be seen all evening, except for photos of documents from around the time of last year.
The crisis of money was explained very little, as the majority of the attendees already knew the issues. Furlough days, pay cuts, budget cuts, etc. The majority of the pay issues have been spread out over several pay periods to soften the blow, but staffers at FSU are not blind.
Gibralter was quick to wash his hands of the blame, especially when it came to the bulk of the audience, staffers with salary reductions. Salary reductions across the state have been "mandated by the USM," Gibralter said, referencing the University System of Maryland. Every university from Salisbury to Towson has been affected by these cuts, which not only hurt staff salaries, but have cut the school's operating budget by over $5 million.
Trying to look on the bright side, Dr. Gibralter mentioned several of the new programs and causes supported by the university since his introduction as president of FSU.
"I did everything I thought would help this institution…how was I to know it would be one of the worst economic times in recent memory?" Gibralter asked the audience.
He then pointed out that the dire straits FSU staff is facing are much softened compared to other areas. In California, for example, professors are forced to take one furlough day for every pay period until 2012. That's roughly 26 furlough days a year for four years.
Other initiatives around campus continually returned to the issue of money. The revamping of the LANE center that has captured the attention of the campus was necessary despite the budget cuts, and Gibralter was quick to remind everyone that the funds for the construction were coming straight from student tuitions and other funds that could not be used for anything other than this project.
Following the construction of the new LANE center, work on the new Center for Communication and Internet Technology (CCIT) building will begin, again with funds that were slated specifically for construction.
The financial offices in the campus are doing what they can to soften to blow on staff salaries, including offering widespread raises and assistance. Dr. Gibralter has assured that these will not be crisis-only initiatives, and that after the economy turns around, "raises will still be priority".
A crowd of over 100 staffers and students crowded into the Pealer Recital Hall to hear the President give an effective State of the Union style address. Unlike last year, the student turn-out was surprisingly high. Also of note was the fact that FSU's new logo, which was one of the biggest announcements at last year's convocation, was nowhere to be seen all evening, except for photos of documents from around the time of last year.
The crisis of money was explained very little, as the majority of the attendees already knew the issues. Furlough days, pay cuts, budget cuts, etc. The majority of the pay issues have been spread out over several pay periods to soften the blow, but staffers at FSU are not blind.
Gibralter was quick to wash his hands of the blame, especially when it came to the bulk of the audience, staffers with salary reductions. Salary reductions across the state have been "mandated by the USM," Gibralter said, referencing the University System of Maryland. Every university from Salisbury to Towson has been affected by these cuts, which not only hurt staff salaries, but have cut the school's operating budget by over $5 million.
Trying to look on the bright side, Dr. Gibralter mentioned several of the new programs and causes supported by the university since his introduction as president of FSU.
"I did everything I thought would help this institution…how was I to know it would be one of the worst economic times in recent memory?" Gibralter asked the audience.
He then pointed out that the dire straits FSU staff is facing are much softened compared to other areas. In California, for example, professors are forced to take one furlough day for every pay period until 2012. That's roughly 26 furlough days a year for four years.
Other initiatives around campus continually returned to the issue of money. The revamping of the LANE center that has captured the attention of the campus was necessary despite the budget cuts, and Gibralter was quick to remind everyone that the funds for the construction were coming straight from student tuitions and other funds that could not be used for anything other than this project.
Following the construction of the new LANE center, work on the new Center for Communication and Internet Technology (CCIT) building will begin, again with funds that were slated specifically for construction.
The financial offices in the campus are doing what they can to soften to blow on staff salaries, including offering widespread raises and assistance. Dr. Gibralter has assured that these will not be crisis-only initiatives, and that after the economy turns around, "raises will still be priority".
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