The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees is attempting to consolidate and internally possess power over the dispersing of funds and decisions regarding academic programs and faculty members, causing students at the university to gather at Simpson’s plaza in protest.
Proposed UW Regulations 6-41, 6-42 and 6-43 will give the board of trustees unchecked authority over the fate of tenured faculty, financial actions in regard to the funds that were taken from student organizations and departments last year and to make decisions on current academic programs at the University of Wyoming.
“I’m here, [standing in protest,] to protect the funds of the fine arts department and to make sure the funding does not get cut further for departments that we love here on campus,” Hayden Hess, junior studying fine arts said.
If these regulations are enacted this will give the board of trustees unbridled power that could potentially affect the lives of many employees who have devoted years to the university and its students. These regulations will also take authoritative power away from President Laurie Nichols and place it directly in the board’s hands.
“I’m graduating in a week but I am happy to be doing this before graduation,” Jordan Smith, senior in medical lab science and microbiology and protest attendee, said. “It is pretty messed up what the board of trustees is doing.”
According to the responsibilities of the board of trustees listed on their website they are to “preserve institutional independence to protect the pursuit of truth, the generation of new knowledge, and intellectual inquiry so that they remain unencumbered by direct government control or special interest.”
It could be argued that by assuming the position of decision maker for the previously mentioned entities of the university that the university as a whole is no longer independent, but in transition to a governed state by the board themselves.
The students who gathered in protest have written a call to action directed at the board of trustees in regard to the above-mentioned regulations with student, and dynamic designer for student media, London Homer-Wambeam at the lead.
“We are still making plans for the upcoming board meeting, but my understanding is that there is a public testimony portion at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 10 and we will send someone to read our call to action letter,” Homer-Wambeam said.
Those in attendance at the protest held signs reading “hands off department money,” “sign our letter, please” and “read more here: Casper Star-Tribune and Better Wyo” directing people to become more informed about the current intentions of the board of trustees. The articles in reference prove the concern around the state of Wyoming, and what the future holds for the University of Wyoming’s academic programs and financial standing.
The board of trustees is holding their meeting today, May 9, to May 11. The regular meeting schedule and agenda can be viewed on UW’s Board of Trustee’s website along with proposed UW Regulations 6-41, 6-42 and 6-43 as well as UW Regulation 6-44 focusing on the appeal procedures in regard to 6-41(Financial Exigency) and 6-43(Academic Program Discontinuance).
The call to action letter directed at the UW Board of Trustees is available for viewing below. You can add a comment with your signature to add the to petition list.
