As it seeks to shore up its budget shortfall, the University of Oregon plans to cut fundingto a 42 year old program that does labor education.
UO President Michael Schill has called for nearly 12 million dollars in reductions overall. Bob Bussel is director of the Labor Education and Research Center or LERC. He says his program integrates teaching, research and public service—three major functions of a University. The University plans to reduce its contribution to LERC by 2/3rds. Bussel says that would amount to an overall cut of 45 percent.
Bussel says, “Whatever percentage you place on it, it would really have a serious impact on our ability to provide the type of service that we’re proud to offer and that our diverse constituents and stakeholders have come to expect.”
Bussel says the irony is that LERC has been busier than ever before. The Bach Festival, Museum of Natural and Cultural History, and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art are also facing cuts.
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