Tension Builds at Town Hall Meeting

by Erica Tomaszewski
edited by Kevin Flanders

On Thursday, April 29 faculty and staff gathered in a crowded and tension-filled Pierce Hall as President Birge discussed health care benefit cuts and pension decreases for non-union employees at Franklin Pierce.

At the Town Hall Meeting, Birge gave 35 minutes of his time to faculty and staff members, delivering a brief overview of the cuts as well as answering questions from the crowd.

The president cited the low enrollment at the Rindge campus as the main reason for the benefit cuts.

“We are a tuition driven institution.  We need to build on revenue producing activities,” said Birge.

Dr. Birge at the Town Hall Meeting

Although retention in the freshmen class is up seven percent from last year, Birge said the university has a “thin margin of surplus in the budget,” and “needs to remain lean for the next few years.”

Birge stressed that faculty layoffs have not been made, but he cannot make promises that there will not be cuts in the future.

“The last few days have been very trying for the senior staff,” said Birge. “We realized we needed to look at cutting benefits instead of cutting people.”

Some faculty members were disappointed with the answers given by Birge during the meeting.   Professor Doug Ley expressed his frustration by asking, “Why should we trust you?”

Others like Professor Mary Kelly and Dr. Richard Roth asked about the fundraising the university was doing and the progress of the Capital Campaign.

Dr. Richard Roth asking about the Capital Campaign

Professor Molly Haas understands the cuts, but does not want others to carry her burden.

“I think the university has tremendous potential and great resources, but like everybody we are in hard times.  I like that our administration is paying attention to that, but I disagree with the method.  I don’t like just the staff to be carrying all the cuts,” said Haas.

Not all attendees of the meeting left with a sour taste in their mouths.  Some staff members including Experience Director Breanna Crawley, talked to Dr. Birge after the meeting, and thanked him for her job.

“People should be happy they have a job in these troubling times.  What is better, paying more for the benefits you are using, or having your friend be cut from his/her job,” said Crawley.

After the meeting, Birge expressed his gratitude that people did show up to hear the information from him instead of relying on a misleading or inaccurate source.  He said that he has mixed feelings over the cuts, but believes they are the best for the university at this time.

Dr. Birge answering questions from the faculty and staff

“If we can make decisions like this now so that we strengthen the institution, we lengthen its life and it continues to provide the educational experience for students that need it,” said Birge.