Tough Times in the Ivory Tower

First, apologies for the lack of updates recently. I usually write a few posts in advance to post automatically when I'm away, but I didn't have a chance to do that this weekend.

There's been some additional economic coverage in the media the last couple of weeks, since we're around the one-year anniversary of when our financial system collapsed. You remember what happened -- the plunging stock market, the frantic political maneuvers to pass an unprecedented bailout bill, John McCain "suspending" his presidential campaign to return to Washington.

It took a while for the effects of the poor economy to reach Cornell, but its presence is now unavoidable. The reporters and editors at the Sun have had their hands full this fall, reporting on the various things which are being cut, or downsized, as well as the task force recommendations and consultant reports.

As a student, it seems clear that there are far fewer courses being offered this coming spring than in semesters past. I'm sure departments have needed to make tough decisions about cutting small classes. The eight people in an upper-level seminar might get a lot out of a particular class, but the department loses a lot of money in the process. Without hiring new faculty, there aren't professors available to replace others who have retired or gone on sabbatical.

But it's not just academics which have been affected. There are fewer intramural sports and P.E. classes. Dining hours have been cut back. Some of the grass on Libe Slope was not mowed. Every few days, there's another article in the Sun about something else being cut or reduced.

With the specter of budget cuts looming over nearly every part of the university, the campus dialogue has changed. Issues which may have gotten center attention now seem insignificant. The debate between student dining employees and CU Dining about wearing hats seems downright silly. Gone are the days when students, professors and administrators could quibble over a new parking lot, or criticize Skorton for not signing the Amethyst Initiative.

Now, we argue over how we spend the scarce funds we have left. We are criticizing the Student Assembly for the conflicts of interest which have apparently become part of its governing culture. Milstein Hall might have been constructed without too much opposition just a couple of years ago, but with other construction projects halted, it has become a lightning rod for criticism.

At times like these, one certainly has to feel for President Skorton. Instead of being able to celebrate the start of a new capital campaign, or the opening of new buildings on West Campus, he now finds himself having to decide which parts of the university budget to cut and which to protect. A collegiate Grim Reaper, if you will. Even Facebook seems to pity Skorton, as evidenced by this screenshot.

Cornell's financial pain has been exacerbated by its emotional pain. Five students have died this fall, and we have only been given an explanation for one of the deaths (a car accident). One died of unknown complications from H1N1, one died of unknown causes in his dorm room and was not found for a couple of days, and we have received no details about the causes of death for two others. In each case, the administration has thoughtfully conveyed its condolences and provided counseling services.

Overall, there has been little to cheer about on East Hill. Things will turn around, as they have before, but not before they get worse.