Dr. Kofi Lomotey, chancellor of Southern University, faced tough questions from students concerning funding, fees and the university’s future.
“Students brought questions to me that I just don’t have the answers to, but [Lomotey] might have these answers,” Student Government Senator Sabrina Whitney said. Southern’s Student Government Association sponsored the question period earlier this month.
“I was pleased to come and do this review,” Lomotey said. “Communication is the key on the campus to dispel rumors and to answer any questions or address any concerns among the student body with detailed information.”
The biggest concern from students was funding. This semester has seen its share of faculty and budget cuts and Lomotey said things may get worse before they get better.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal ordered Southern to cut $4 million from its budget, which led Lomotey to announce in December that overtime pay will rarely be approved; essentially freeze hiring, except in exceptional circumstances; and limit travel and equipment purchases, subject to approval by the provost or vice chancellor.
If the state legislature institutes another budget cut, Lomotey said, jobs are at risk.
“If the legislature goes through with their second of two budget cutting scenarios, we would have to cut $15 million out of a $51 million budget, and we just don’t have that in nonpersonnel. We would have to cut some faculty and staff as well as administration,” he added. “We can’t cut tenured faculty but there are almost one hundred [faculty members] who are temporary and we would have to eliminate positions that are not filled. We are not expecting that big of a cut but it is something that we are told to prepare for.”
