BUFFALO, N.Y. — Members of the Canisius College Faculty Senate are speaking out against recently announced cuts in staff and curriculum at the Jesuit university.
The Griffin, the college's campus paper, reports a resolution of No Confidence passed by a vote of 11-5.
Earlier this week, Canisius announced over 70 job cuts, 25 of them professors, to try and close a $20 million budget deficit. Professors tell 2 On Your Side the most frustrating part about the layoffs is that their colleagues are taking the hit from a budget deficit that was not their fault.
In an interview with 2 On Your Side's Danielle Church earlier this week, President Hurley responded to the concerns, "So, I don't think they're in the dark," Hurley said.
"The faculty has been represented in these discussions over the last month and a half by representatives of the faculty Senate."
Hurley says that consisted of the Faculty Senate, the Senate's Executive Committee and the Senate's representatives to the College Budget Committee.
President Hurley issued this statement Thursday afternoon:
The Faculty Senate vote of no confidence is regrettable, although I certainly understand the level of concern by the members of the Senate about the moves that the college has been forced to make. This vote is especially regrettable because I involved 11 faculty representatives from the Senate in the development of our budget plan and made it clear that we were open to alternatives from the faculty. I understand that the resolution is to be accompanied by a more complete statement from the Senate which I have not yet received. When we do, Lee Wortham, the chair of the Board of Trustees will respond on behalf of the Board. In the meantime, we remain committed to working with the faculty on a path forward for Canisius.
John J. Hurley
President