Student letter sent to the Spartan Daily for publication.

Dear San Jose State Spartan Daily,

The layoffs to our school staff is a tough blow to not only the employees
but also the students. Some say the cuts are necessary to balance the school's
budget but the way the cuts were made isn't fair. There are highly qualified
school staff being let go or being redirected
to other parts of the campus.

The idea of seniority to make the cuts might sound great but there are some flaws.
Highly qualified staff are being let go while low performing staff get to stay.
In one department I know, the only bilingual secretary is being cut.
She is a great addition to the diversity of the campus.
She is able to translate and help the needs of non-English speaking
and international students.
In addition, she gets calls and emails from people and organizations
around the world. By letting her go, we lose more than just a secretary.
We lose a part of the university.

San Jose State is about helping students graduate, getting a degree and
finding a career. But making cuts to staff that do have families,
just shows the students and community
that the university has no care for the people they are letting go.
How is this a positive example
for the community that they want everyone to succeed
when the university is suffering?

Ultimately, the students will face longer lines in certain departments
just to graduate on time. Other students will have trouble checking out
tech equipment for projects. With one less secretary,
one less counselor, one less equipment coordinator; students in the
end will be the ones suffering.
We pay more in fees but are receiving less for our money.


Dan Lu

Senior Mass Communications Major