Town Meeting Today--live on the internet.--TK Wetherell

Colleges & Universities Florida State University
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<p>Dear Member of the Florida State University Community,</p>

<p>This is a reminder that we have scheduled a Town Hall Meeting on the budget
crisis on: Tuesday, April 21, 3:30 p.m.; Askew Student Life Building Theater. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m.</p>

<p>The goal of the meeting is to make sure that everyone on campus has the same
information regarding the University’s budget challenges and plans for the
future.</p>

<p>Questions will be accepted by email and on site. You may send questions by email
to <a href=“mailto:budgetcrisisteam@admin.fsu.edu”>budgetcrisisteam@admin.fsu.edu</a>. Questions that arrive by email will be
accepted until 12:00 noon on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Everyone is welcome to attend, but since space is limited, the meeting will also
be webcast. In addition to its availability on individual computers, the webcast
will be offered on large screens throughout the Student Life Building and at
Strozier Library. The webcast will run from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m., but, if necessary,
the meeting will continue beyond that time for further questions and comments.</p>

<p>You can access the webcast through a link at fsu.edu or fsu.com. The URL is
[Budget</a> Town Hall Meeting](<a href=“http://mediasite.apps.fsu.edu/Mediasite/Viewer/?peid=a31b4966b6d3448db4c078006fdd326c]Budget”>http://mediasite.apps.fsu.edu/Mediasite/Viewer/?peid=a31b4966b6d3448db4c078006fdd326c)</p>

<p>Information on the Town Hall Meeting and the budget crisis has been posted on
the Budget Crisis Committee web site: <a href=“http://campus.fsu.edu/budget[/url]”>http://campus.fsu.edu/budget&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>T.K. Wetherell</p>

<p>President</p>

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<p>Listening now…</p>

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<p>How did it go?</p>

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<p>I tuned in at about 4:15, as I was working and could not sit at the computer sooner. I thought that the student asking TK to give back some of his salary was a little disrespectful in the way he went about it, given that TK has not accepted the $75,000 bonus for a few years. And I did not know that only about $200,000 plus of his salary is FSU budget dollars anyway, and the rest (500,000) is donation dollars. But the other questions all seems appropriate and expressed sincere concern. </p>

<p>It was interesting to see just how much $75 million is. There was the mention as to why not eliminate cell phones for administration, etc They said the entire cell phone bill for the university was only $200,000, and that would not make a drop in the bucket–it is less than 0.4% of the cuts needed. The highest line item for the university is the electricity bill. Perhaps they can find inexpensive ways to go green. I know they already turn off the heat in most all buildings (and warn the staff they are doing so) over the Christmas break. The next most expensive single item is the library, especially with the cost of periodicals and electronic access. I know there is a memo going around about what each department uses, doesn’t use, could live without etc with regards to references. </p>

<p>It will be interested for me to read more of the earlier part of the presentations. I will provide a link once it is available.</p>

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<p>Bottom line - call and write the Legislature that you want solid funding for Florida State and the university system.</p>

<p>Plus - everything discussed is theoretical. Nothing is real until the budget comes in.</p>