FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY MAY 11, 2010

Press Conference
Monday June 14, 2010
11am
Outside McNamara Alumni Center
(200 Oak St SE, Minneapolis)

Monday June 14th the Chop from the Top Coalition at the University of Minnesota, will be holding a press conference outside the McNamara Alumni Center (200 Oak St SE, Minneapolis) to talk about the Regents public budget hearing. At the hearing members of the coalition, which includes undergraduate & graduate students, staff and faculty will be testify on the U of M budget proposals. Phyllis Walker said, "President Bruininks budget pushes the U's budget problems onto students and staff at the University of Minnesota while it continues to inflate the administration."

Nick Hengen, graduate instructor, English Department said, "Bruininks has again proposed raising tuition rates, cutting departmental budgets and cutting staff." he added, "When they describe us, the people who do the U's teaching and research; the people who make the university run-as expenses, as costs, they've lost touch."

"While the budget for public education gets slashed, over 250 administrators at the University of Minnesota are paid more than $200,000 per year. Increasing layoffs and the threatened furloughs reduce vital services for students. Furloughs are a pay cut, and front line staff are already struggling to get by," says Phyllis Walker, president of AFSCME 3800 and coalition member.
Ms. Walker added, "H.F. 1671, the state legislature's supplemental budget bill that was signed into law on April 1st includes the rider, "The Board of Regents is requested to consider, if feasible, making voluntary for its lowest paid employees any furlough program designed to meet budget shortfalls. We know it is feasible and the Regents need to make that happen."

"Students at the University of Minnesota have been asked each year for over 10 years to swallow tuition hikes because of budget issues, but it's time to say enough is enough. We can no longer afford it; students and staff can no longer be the scapegoats while administrators continue to get paid absurd salaries. Students for a Democratic Society and the Chop from the Top Coalition will continue to demand that the administrators Chop from the Top," added Stephanie Taylor of Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota.
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