Alum Perspective on Budget Crisis

To the Editors:

As a former Oberlin College student, I am writing to express my deep concern and outrage about your recent decision to lay off 11 College workers due to a “budget crisis.” Has any thought been given to the budget crisis this will mean for those 11 workers?
If there is truly a budget crisis why would you agree to the absolutely shameful and irresponsible $1 million bonus and a raise which brings your salary to $323,000 a year (plus numerous benefits such as a rent free house, pension, health benefits, and who knows what else)? Why would you try and keep this fact secret (It was only made public due to an unofficial leak)?
It is also mystifying why the College refuses to open its books for independent examination and analysis.
If there truly is a budget crisis, why not let the students and College workers who will have to suffer its consequences be fully informed? Why not allow the widest possible discussion on how we can solve this crisis? I can only guess the reason is you don’t want College workers and students seeing the exorbitant salaries and wasteful spending of the top administrators.
I urge President Nancy Dye to immediately reverse the recent layoffs, open the college books, and save the College the necessary money by restoring her (and other administrators) salaries to a decent level.

–Philip Locker
OC ’01