Handful of students protest N.C. State budget cuts

Raleigh, N.C. — A small group of North Carolina State University students on Monday protested proposed budget cuts at the university that would lead to larger class sizes, fewer courses and employee layoffs.

Three students and a former student walked to the administration building ahead of a University Budget Advisory Committee meeting Monday afternoon. The committee plans to lay off as 170 workers and cut about 3,000 places for students.

The University of North Carolina System faces a $175 million budget cut, which means its 16 campuses across the state are having to find ways to trim budgets.

N.C. State is facing a 5 percent cut for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, and the university is looking at how it can cut as much as 7 percent.

The group has a list of requests, including pay cuts, layoffs and furloughs to begin at the administrative level, including Chancellor James Oblinger.

Provost Larry Nielsen said he met with the group. He said the university has done the best it can with a complex budget.

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Latest Comments

NO, THEY HAVE NOT DONE THE BEST THEY CAN DO AND THEY CAN CUT THE ONE POSITION THAT ALREADY HAS NC WONDERING WHAT HAPPEN TO THE FIRST FAMILY OF YESTERDAY.

UNCfuturealumi
April 20, 2009 7:28 p.m.

Yep, they could save $170K by firing Mary Easley for her job that was surely given as a payback. Or, perhaps Easley's campaign can pay her salary like it has to try to cover up for the free cars.

GoHeels1969
April 20, 2009 7:17 p.m.

Is Mary Easley's new mega buck position being cut? If not, then I think they should ALL protest.

grayboomerang
April 20, 2009 7:09 p.m.