Memorial University VP blasts budget cuts in scathing blog post

In a no-holds-barred blog post, Memorial University Provost and VP Noreen Golfman is taking aim at the Liberal government's budget cuts to the post-secondary institution.

"No matter what you hear government officials are saying Memorial is getting hit big time," wrote Golfman, painting a bleak picture of a crumbling campus.

"Andno, government did not give us enough to cover a continuing tuition freeze or to manage this plant, which is falling apart in almost every nook and corner."

• Read Golfman's full post here

In its April14budget, the province cut $8-millionfrom the university's operational grant, a lossthatcomes on the heels of budget cuts the year before.

Calling the budget a "monster of enforced attrition and reduction,"Golfman'stone is a marked departure from that of MUN President GaryKachanoski. who spoke with CBC's On the Goon budget day.

"We are, and need to be, aligned with the government's objectives in their budget... and to do our part with whatis a pretty significant and tough fiscal situation for the province," Kachanoski said.

Tough math

Calling the government spin"intolerable,"Golfman's blogbreaks down thetough math behindMUN'sfinancial woes.

• Memorial University tries to 'minimize impact' of budget cuts
• Government 'expects' MUN to maintain tuition freeze

Golfman said the province also plans to cut $10.6-million a year from the university for the next three years, which, along with salary attrition, means the university will have to operate on $25-million less by the 2019-2020 academicyear.

"That's a hell of a lot bigger than a certain Minister claimed," Golfman wrote, pointing the finger at the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, Gerry Byrne.

I am desperately seeking a silver lining.- MUN VP Noreen Golfman

Golfman said thatfigurealsodoesn't include the extra $2-million the university will pay annually thanks to the HST hike.

"No one I talk to can see how the university can absorb $25-millionworth of cuts, on top of last year's hit, without serious adjustments to one or all of the following: tuition fees, academic programs, staff, quality of teaching, infrastructure plan, student services," she wrote.

It is up to MUN'sadministrationto decide whether to lift the long-standingfreeze on tuition.

Golfman concluded her post asking for a ray of hope, for both the province and its post-secondary education.

"I am desperately seeking a silver lining. Know the facts. Challenge the misconceptions and spin. Put students first."