Trustees Meeting

Unheard of! Employees of this institution are asked not to talk with members of the Board. A "firable offense" I have heard some people even say. But two of the trustees asked to meet with us to provide feedback about the president's 5 year evaluation.

Not surprisingly, the room was full. The atmosphere was tense. Faculty have had no raise of any appreciable nature in almost five years. Our benefits are being constantly whittled away. There is little offered along the lines of a reprieve from these tight confines. We finally have a chance to be heard. Will they listen?

They talk first. They mention the dire economic situation, especially in western New York. They talk about beginning a capital campaign to continue improving the campus in order to attract enough students to stay out of debt, a status we are grateful to have. We listen, hoping against hope for some shred of change.

But it does not come. I am too new to speak on behalf of anyone. But the "big name" people are not afraid to broach the tough subjects. They speak out for raises, for benefits, for channeling money into supporting what we already have. They ask what changes are being considered to find solutions.

There are no answers. Only a grim realization that this is how it is and there is no wiggle room. We are being responsible, but you can only do so much with such an economy. And there it ends. The hour is past and there are other meetings calling the trustees. It is a silent and heavy hearted group who break up and wander off.