Bruininks holds open forum

Clarifying previous statements, defending recent decisions and asking for collaboration, University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks fielded questions before an audience of about 40 people Thursday.
The crowd’s critical statements and questions were met with equally passionate answers that had Bruininks leaning forward in his chair in Coffman Memorial Union’s theater and talking about finding common ground.
Questions, both spoken and written, ranged from University cost-cutting measures to campus safety.
“It seems to me that open conversation spiced with passion and some controversy is indicative of a healthy institution,” said Karen Himle, vice president for University Relations and the forum’s mediator.
Faculty asked the president how he could ensure that the University wasn’t “recklessly” spending money on non-academic activities like athletics. This led into questions of how the University evaluates programs to determine which can be eliminated in the near future.
Bruininks responded with a challenge to University faculty and staff to involve themselves in the task of cutting the “bloat” from the University’s budget.
He said he has given each academic and support unit the responsibility to find ways to “do more with less.”
He expressed little interest in seeing top administration impose those cuts on the program level.
“Certainly it’s preferable … for academic units to examine their own missions to decide what we may be able to eliminate rather than having the administration do it from the top down,” professor Eva von Dassow said. “But after years of cuts, you’re essentially asking us which of our body parts we can amputate.”
She, on behalf of a number of faculty, said they would like to see the central administration experience cuts first.
“I don’t have a problem looking at central administration,” Bruininks said.
Everyone at the University seems to have a common desire to see frivolous spending cut out, he said, but the means of achieving such cuts differ.
“I welcome the debate,” he said. “I’m going to be around here for 14 months, and until the last day I’m going to be working on these issues.”
Saving jobs and saving money will be top priorities, he added.
Diane Odash, a College of Liberal Arts teaching specialist, asked Bruininks to address comments he made at a March 25 Faculty Senate meeting. She said the remarks made it appear that he favored higher-paid staff over the rest, which justified a flat 1.15 percent pay cut instead of a scale cut. Bruininks denied that interpretation.
“If you knew anything about me, you’d know that was very far off the mark,” he said.
Questions were also raised about safety on campus and the effectiveness of student involvement in University governance.
Bruininks said recent attacks on University students were “dramatic” and “disturbing,” but noted that crime rates are actually decreasing. Still, he said safety remains a high priority and the continued partnership with surrounding neighborhoods is a step in the right direction.
He also addressed Minnesota Student Association ’s desire to see student participation similar to that at the University of Wisconsin. In that system, a legislative policy called shared governance places students in some non-standing university committees, ensuring they have input in major decisions.
Bruininks said he believes students have an active voice on campus and would support improvements, though he thinks the University can handle that on its own rather than doing it through legislation.

- Taryn Wobbema is a senior staff reporter