Staff Editorial
With the $1.6 million in budget cuts recently proposed by Seaver Dean David Baird, students are starting to show signs of outrage for the first time in recent memory. Could it be? At this usually complacent campus, is the proposal to eliminate six of our majors, many of our minors and some fairly prominent programs actually ruffling some student feathers?
Perhaps. Or maybe students are just confused as to what is actually going on.
It’s true that the most common reaction to the news is some off-the-cuff comment regarding the number of new palm trees seen around campus. Obviously, the massive Smothers Theatre renovation, which features fountains and detailed tile design, has some people angry about how administrators are choosing to spend Pepperdine’s money. Add to that other recent campus additions, such as the Honor Wall, a new DVD collection in the library and stop signs popping up left and right. All things considered, the image the administration is providing concerning Pepperdine’s priorities is at an all-time low.
In response to these criticisms of how the school chooses to spend its money, the administration has an explanation that, at face value, makes perfect sense. In order to properly analyze the situation, students need to understand this reasoning.
Every dollar the University has comes with many strings attached. Rarely does Pepperdine receive money from donors who do not care how the money is spent. Therefore, Pepperdine has a limited number of discretionary dollars that can be spent without restriction – be it on academic programs, student services or new palm trees.
Furthermore, the money Pepperdine uses to pay for things like majors must be continually renewed, because every year brings new expenses. On the other hand, things like palm trees or facilities renovations are paid for with “one-time” money — once they are purchased, the bulk of the expense has been dealt with.
The University has a comparatively easy time getting alumni to donate money to plant a tree that bears a plaque with the donor’s name. But who wants to put their name on something we might really need, such as a parking garage? And for things that are not so easy to put a name on (such as, say, majors), donor are even more difficult to find.
However, just because something isn’t easy doesn’t mean it should not be done.
We must ask the question: Why don’t we explain the situation to some donors, and see how they react? “Hey,” we can say. “Instead of buying us a flat of flowers, how about you give us some money so we can avoid eliminating a major?” Or maybe, “Did you know you could save the Debate team with that contribution to the cement fund?” They may just be OK with that.
We must consider how all of this attention to facilities, renovation and beautification makes Pepperdine look in the eyes of the national academic community. What does it say about our school that, according to the Princeton Review, we are ranked No. 1 in the “Dorms Like Palaces” category and are the No. 6 most beautiful campus in the nation, but over the last three years we have slipped further and further in the overall U.S. News and World Report rankings?
As we move lower on the list, it is important to remember that our friends who are advertising and public relations majors are not the only ones to be affected by these changes. Everyone’s degree is moving down a few notches on the value scale as our school’s reputation suffers. This is not to mention that soon the Debate team, the Writing Center and the jazz music program, among other things, may not be available for our extra-curricular pleasure.
But let’s be honest. Many students aren’t going to grad school, so they don’t need long lists of extra-curricular activities for their resumes, and few job applications require applicants to disclose their G.P.A. In that case, perhaps the most appropriate thing to do is fall back on the University’s Christian mission — it may be the only thing that can save us now. For those students, this is an opportunity to look out for their fellow men, to be unselfish and think about the people we call our colleagues, our teammates and our friends.
Freely we have received, having the opportunity to attend such an amazing school with caring professors and good friends. Now, without asking what’s in it for us or how it will affect us, maybe it’s the time to freely give: give our support, give our feedback, or give our thoughts and actions to protect Pepperdine and all that has been built to make what it is today.
09-23-2004