MTSU Students Protest Budget Cuts

The Coalition to Save Our Schools will bring together students, faculty, and staff to protest the proposals of MTSU’s University Steering Committee. They will be voicing their opposition to the Steering Committee’s proposals to cut jobs and academic departments, including philosophy, physics, geosciences, criminal justice, and women’s studies at the residence of MTSU President Sidney McPhee, two weeks before he is scheduled to make his final decision regarding budget cuts. The MTSU administration has denied students the right to protest on their own campus; consequently, a group of students whose majors are slated to be cut will be engaging in an act of civil disobedience, in the hope of preserving their departments.

President McPhee handpicked the members of the Steering Committee, preventing faculty and students from affected departments from voicing their concerns during the process, which ensured that that the composition of the Committee did not reflect the broader academic community of MTSU. Governor Bredesen has not announced the state government’s budget; therefore, these proposals are irresponsibly premature. If budget cuts must be made, they should start with the administration, not academic programs. Students, faculty, and staff are outraged because any decision based upon the recommendations by the Steering Committee will substantially lower the value of MTSU degrees and tarnish its academic reputation.

Members, allies and supports of the Coalition to Save Our Schools, together with concerned faculty, staff, and students from MTSU. Friday. March 6, 2009 from 1:00pm to 6:00pm central. The residence of Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney McPhee, located on the MTSU campus at 2212 Middle Tennessee Blvd, on the corner of Middle Tennessee Blvd. and East Main St. in Murfreesboro, TN.

Michael Cannon at 615-406-5423