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Volume 119, Issue 13
VISTA “Our Words, Your Voice.”
vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021
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INSIDE
The Vista asked to leave from invitation-only Q&A meeting between president and senate to discuss budget concerns Holiday Lights
“Luminance: An Enchanting Stroll,” is a community walk-thru light display event at Mitch Park. See Pg. 7
‘Encanto’ review
Disney’s latest focuses on Latin culture, and brings magical themes to Columbian traditions.
“I’m leaving it up to you all and the unit heads to decide what natural efficiencies mean for you, and how those units operate effectively,” President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar said, asking faculty senators to find ways to cut costs. (The Vista/ Michaela Todd)
Ainsley Martinez Managing Editor
See Pg. 6
Central Pantry The Central Pantry is accepting applications for the spring semester. Service hours are available. See Pg. 7
Around Campus UCO Musical Theatre vocalists will be performing favorite holiday tunes at the Jazz Lab. See Pg. 2
Last Friday, UCO President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar hosted a meeting with faculty senators to answer various questions they had about the university. The meeting was “invitation only,” consisting of about 20 faculty members, but The Vista reporters attended to cover the meeting, attempting to abide by the Open Meetings Act. Many attendees wanted to know the “strategic plan” for the ongoing $15 million budget deficit crisis. “My number one goal with addressing the budget is to get to a place where we can spread that money out for people,” Neuhold-Ravikumar said in response to one question. “So we don’t have extra money to be able to increase faculty or staff salaries. Whether we want it to, or whether they’re deserved, is beside the point
until we resolve the deficit.” Neuhold-R avikumar asked faculty senators “to go back and find natural efficiencies.” “I’m leaving it up to you all and the unit heads to decide what natural efficiencies mean for you, and how those units operate effectively,” Neuhold-Ravikumar said.
“survival of the fittest” approach is “killing morale.” “It’s basically, ‘Who’s going to be around?’” Seagraves said. “‘Which colleague should I befriend and play politics with so that I can stay?’ and ‘Is my job staying or not?’ “In talking to faculty directly, they’re applying for jobs. They are worried about feeding their family, their children. Some of them put in 25 years here, and are saying, ‘I don’t work for UCO anymore. I’m not proud of this institution. I work for my students,’” Seagraves said. “And I personally feel the same way.” However, in the midst of concerns about the budget, issues of “transparency and communication” arose. Seagraves mentioned that “another theme” of these concerns related to particular meetings, such as these, being excluded from the public and staff.
“‘I don’t work for UCO anymore. I’m not proud of this institution. I work for my students.’ And I personally feel the same way.” - Nikki Seagraves However, some were not satisfied with this answer, which suggested substantial faculty layoffs for the benefit of renewed faculty lines. Nikki Seagraves, a faculty senator representing the UCO College of Mathematics and Science, said this
She was then interrupted by Faculty Senator Kristi Archuleta, who said she did “not expect the press to be here.” Neuhold-Ravikumar replied swiftly. “We did not expect them to be here either, but they refused to leave,” she said. The Vista reporters were told about five minutes prior to the meeting, by Faculty Senate President Jennifer Barger Johnson, that this was a “closed meeting” and we needed to leave per Neuhold-Ravikumar. Citing the Open Meetings Act, which bars state-funded institutions from holding closed meetings, with specific exceptions, Johnson asked us to wait while she asked for a reason. A moment later, she turned around and shrugged — an inconclusive message that this reporter took as a reason to stay. The door shut, and we were still in the room. “We are not trying to step Continued on Pg. 3