Florida International University FIU Digital Commons The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) Special Collections and University Archives 4-16-2008 The Beacon, April 16, 2008 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper Recommended Citation Florida International University, "The Beacon, April 16, 2008" (2008). The Panther Press (formerly The Beacon). 191. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper/191 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections and University Archives at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Our View: No winners in these tough times. Page 4. A Forum for Free Student Expression at Florida International University Vol. 20, Issue 65 www.fi usm.com April 16, 2008 MONEY WOES BUDGET INJUSTICES STATE SIGHTS FADING SEASON BBC concerned about cuts FIU’s priorities are not in order Road trip destinations Baseball team suffers in conference AT THE BAY PAGE 4 OPINION PAGE 5 LIFE! PAGE 6 SPORTS PAGE 12 Students INSUFFICIENT FUNDS show up, speak out GEOFFREY ANDERSON JR. Life! Editor For two hours on April 14, a section of the Graham Center Ballrooms seemed more like a ninja convention than a town hall meeting. Dozens of headband-wearing students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and others attended the meeting to support their respective schools, which they feel are threatened by FIU’s state-mandated budget cuts. Supporters of the Center for Labor Research and Studies carried a hand- made sign in front of the ballroom’s stage reading “Save the Labor Center.” Similarly, SJMC students with head- bands reading “SJMC Rocks” prepared their own defense during the meeting’s Q&A section, citing the School of Journalism and Mass Communications’ reputation for producing Hispanic jour- nalists. At the meeting, University President Modesto Maidique, Provost Ronald Berk- TOUGH TIMES: University President Modesto Maidique, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Offi cer Vivian Sanchez and Execu- man and Chief Financial Offi cer Vivian tive Vice President and Provost Ronald Berkman take turns answering questions during Monday’s Town hall meeting. Sanchez proposed a three-year budget President discusses REACTIONS, page 2 cuts with community Maidique’s CHRISTINA VEIGA our recommendations are for News Director closing the gap, rather than leave everyone in the dark.” blame game Top University offi cials pre- Opposition arose when Berk- sented a contentious three-year man took the stage to detail plan detailing how FIU will the four-tier system used to unfounded survive pending budget cuts at determine the importance of a second town hall meeting on colleges, schools, centers, insti- tutes and departments. Berkman April 14. PHOTOS BY GIO GUADARRAMA/THE BEACON University President Modesto announced that all centers and JUST THE FACTS: Maidique, Executive Vice Presi- institutes have been granted level President Modesto Maidique presents a Power- dent and Provost Ronald Berk- four status, with many being Point presentation on the upcoming budget cuts. man and Senior Vice President closed, restructured or pressured and Chief Financial Officer to fi nd alternate sources of fund- have to say is ‘how dare you?’” Maidique blamed Medicare Vivian Sanchez presented tiered ing. Sanchez was also met with and Medicaid for straining the The crowd in the Graham Center approaches explaining which Representatives from the backlash in response to her four- national budget, and the crippled Ballrooms buzzed with a nervous com- areas of the University will be Center for Labor Research and tiered approach, with vehicles, housing market in Florida for the motion as tense students and faculty most affected by the cuts of up Studies, which faces restructur- mail/duplicating/printing, e-mail state budget defi cit of nearly $5 members waited to see where the ax to $35 million. ing, were present with signs to support, construction manage- billion. would fall. All emphasized that none of protest their position as a low ment and real estate development “Since construction and hous- University President Maidique the plans will be fi nalized until priority to the University. cited as level four priorities. ing are such important elements stood before the crowd, the room fell the Faculty Senate, Budget Sta- Tier three colleges and schools Various mail center employ- of our economy, if those sectors into a grim and somber silence. bilization Taskforce and Board include the College of Law, ees were present to protest the have a cold, Florida gets a pneu- As FIU stands to grapple with the of Trustees review them and give College of Education, School possible outsourcing of their monia. And when Florida gets consequences of a catastrophic $2 ultimate approval. of Journalism and Mass Com- department. They encouraged pneumonia, we, who are funded billion cut to public education by the “What we are going to discuss munication, Engineering, School Sanchez to look within for cre- primarily through the state of state government, President Maidique and put on the table today are not of Business, International Studies ative solutions for saving their Florida, experience a real prob- placed the blame for this crisis squarely decisions that have been made,” and Architecture and the Arts. department. lem,” Maidique said. where it didn’t belong: on the “secular Berkman said. “I felt, and the “There has been a push by the “You have the talent here. Maidique presented his plan force” known as the Medicare/Medic- president felt, that it is better as provost to eradicate the school There is too much politics,” said for “FIU 3.0,” which detailed a a community to share with you of mass communication,” said Urias Martinez, a mail room what we are thinking and what Roberto Moreno, senior. “Sir, all I employee. BUDGET CUTS, page 2 CABRAL, page 5 2 The Beacon – April 16, 2008 NEWS www.fi usm.com Centers, institutes at most risk for future cuts CHARLIE GRAU and institutes self suffi cient," "The center has served the Editor in Chief Berkman said. "Most univer- community over the years. sities have forgotten about the This shows a lack of com- Centers and institutes fi nd responsibility of centers and mitment to the community, themselves on the chopping institutes to provide a return especially to the under-served block while the University on that investment.” population of the community figures out how to combat Over the next year, some like the homeless and immi- a budget crisis for the next centers will either be con- grant community. It's people fi scal year. solidated, closed down or like that who benefit most At a town hall meeting have 21 to 50 percent of their from our research and train- on April 14 in the Graham budgets cut. ing," said Center of Labor and Center Ballrooms, Executive Berkman said that every- Research Studies Director Vice President and Provost thing presented at the meet- Dawn Addy. Ronald Berkman said the ing was not defi nite, but just “They claim they want to University started taking a recommendations. serve under-served communi- look at the dollar savings that But some faculty from ties and claim they want to be are in centers and institutes. centers and institutes disagree a new urban community, well In order to help combat the with Berkman's view. here we are, we’re the ones 4 to 7 percent budget cut the Bruce Nissen, director that do that,” Nissen said. University is facing, various of research at the Center of Despite the bleak news centers and institutes would Labor and Research Studies, that was delivered, some be closed down or consoli- said the provost's remarks students believe there is still dated. about centers and institutes hope. According to Berkman, owing money to University Research assistant for the closing the centers and insti- was "hogwash." center Cynthia Hernandez tutes will help save state funds "The Labor Center was and Freshman Kevin Gon- which would in turn be used created with a special state zalez walked in front of the to hire more faculty. appropriation and FIU got audience minutes before the "Centers and institutes extra money to create the town hall meeting started with GIO GUADARRAMA/THE BEACON are started and funded with center. It was created by an a huge banner that read, "Save POINTED QUESTIONS: Jose Pagliery, a senior in the School of Journalism and Mass institutional dollars for a cer- act of the state legislature and the Labor Center." Communication, asks a question during Monday’s town hall meeting. tain number of years. The funding by the state legisla- "Our struggle is going to expectation is that these cen- ture," Nissen said. continue and we're going to ters and institutes will take The center is one that has continue to fi ght. The support these dollars over a three been proposed to have its is continuing to grow. I don't Worried students fi ght year period and use those budget reduced by 50 percent think the battle is over and dollars to generate grants and this year and 100 percent the we're certainly not fi nished," for future of colleges gifts that will make centers next. Hernandez said. REACTIONS, page 1 number of class offerings. colleges because they will Executives lay out plan “I fi nd it ironic that there’s be fighting for funding plan for the University. The an insistence on having from an already stretched plan places each University enough classes offered when budget. center and department in there are journalism students “These priorities pit to deal with budget cuts one of four levels of prior- who have been here fi ve or college versus college ity: those in the fi rst tier will – ultimately dividing the more years because they are BUDGET CUTS, page 1 out his fi ve most important Medicine receive the least cuts while trying to get the classes they University,” Dial said.