EDITORIAL: Trimming the Fat

We encourage the UniversityWe encourage the Universityto continue finding ways toWe encourage the Universityto continue finding ways toimprove efficiency and reduce costs.We encourage the Universityto continue finding ways toimprove efficiency and reduce costs.____________________________________ Unfortunately, this bitter process has resulted in 20 employees losing their jobs. And the administration does not deny that more firings are still to come. But to the University's credit, it has not simply abandoned these particular individuals. Executive Vice President John Fry has established a coordinator in his office to attempt to shift these workers to other departments where they can be more productive, rather than firing them outright. If this "in-placement" is unsuccessful, Fry said that the University is currently working with two outside firms that specialize in placing laid-off workers in new jobs. The University's reality, however, remains a harsh one. During an era of federal cutbacks, tuitions have skyrocketed as funding for research, renovations and investment has continued to subside. To maintain a competitive edge in this economically strapped world, the University has no choice but to downsize and eliminate unnecessary jobs. As the administration continues to reengineer various departments, we hope it will remain concerned about the victims of this ugly, but necessary process. At the same time, we urge the University to continue to cut away waste so that it will avoid tumbling into a fiscal abyss.