West Virginia United Students' Union

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WVUSU
West Virginia United Students' Union
Formation20 July 2023; 9 months ago (2023-07-20)
FoundersChristian Adams
Matthew Kolb
Winston Smith
Location
Membership
400+ Students
Assembly President
Matthew Kolb
Main organ
Assembly of Delegates
Websitehttps://www.wvusu.org/

The West Virginia United Students' Union (WVUSU) is a students' union with the self-stated goal of consolidating and strategically directing student power at West Virginia University (WVU).[1][2]

History

Beginnings and the WVU Budget Crisis

WVUSU, founded by West Virginia University undergraduates leading up to the fall semester of 2023, began organizing in response to the university's administrative review into its academic programs.[3][4] Since its formation was announced on July 20, WVUSU has gained over four hundred members.[5]

On August 11, 2023, WVU's administration released its recommendations to fill a $45 million budget deficit by eliminating 32 majors and reducing faculty by 169 positions.[6] WVUSU opposed the recommendations by organizing a student walkout held ten days later. Walkout rallies were held on the university's Evansdale and Downtown campuses and saw hundreds of participants, with the downtown rally growing to the point that participants blocked traffic.[7][8][9] In addition to opposing the recommendations, participants called for university president E. Gordon Gee to be removed from his position.[10] The rallies saw physical support from faculty and two sitting members and one former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.[11] That same week, WVUSU led a live music event at the local performance venue 123 Pleasant Street.[12]

On August 31, 2023, WVUSU's Assembly of Delegates released a statement urging the student body president, who sits on WVU's Board of Governors, to vote against the recommended cuts and reductions.[13]

Members of WVUSU attended the university's regular Student Government Association (SGA) assembly meeting on September 6, 2023, where they spoke against the recommended cuts and reductions and called for SGA to give make more efforts to support students.[14]

On September 9, 2023, members of WVUSU joined Marshall University students in a solidarity rally on Marshall's campus in Huntington, WV.[15] Many of the students in attendance expressed interest in forming a students' union at the university.[16]

On September 14, 2023, members of WVUSU rallied outside the WVU Erickson Alumni Center ahead of the Board of Governors meeting to hear public comments regarding the recommendations. At the meeting, about fifty people, including WVUSU members, spoke in opposition to the recommendations, and not a single person spoke in favor.[17][18][19]

On September 15, 2023, the Board of Governors vote to approve the recommendations was disrupted by student protesters, led by WVUSU, inside the meeting room. The students eventually exited the meeting room, which was followed by the board chair stating that she did not tell them to leave and that she "will not let that misinformation spread." The students returned, attempted to re-enter the meeting room, and were physically removed by university personnel, according to WVU's student newspaper The Daily Athenaeum.[20] The students continued their protest outside the building and outside the windows of the meeting room while the board voted in favor of eliminating twenty-eight programs and one hundred forty-three faculty positions.[21][22][23]

Post-Board of Governors Vote

On October 23, 2023, WVUSU and West Virginia Campus Workers organized a response, dubbed the "People's State of the University Address," to an address delivered by university president E. Gordon Gee earlier that afternoon. Speakers included the WVUSU Assembly President, Matthew Kolb, and Lisa DiBartolomeo, a teaching professor from the to-be-discontinued World Languages Department. The event's speeches included discussions of program cuts, reductions in force, and labor.[24][25]

References

  1. ^ Taylor, Lauren (2023-09-06). "'What am I supposed to do?': Suggested program cuts leave students lost". The Daily Athenaeum - West Virginia University. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  2. ^ Mullens, Sydney (2023-09-06). "WV United: Student union opposes academic transformation". The Daily Athenaeum - West Virginia University. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  3. ^ Cleavenger, Erin (2023-08-17). "Many students indifferent to WVU proposal; others warn of ripple effects". Dominion Post. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  4. ^ Cleavenger, Erin (2023-08-21). "Students' demands made clear during walk-out". Dominion Post. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  5. ^ "The impact of West Virginia University's cuts could reach beyond the school, observers warn". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  6. ^ Schackner, Bill (2023-08-21). "West Virginia University students hold walkout to protest cuts in academic programs". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  7. ^ Quinn, Ryan. "Hundreds of Students Protest WVU's Proposed Program and Faculty Cuts". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  8. ^ Maher, Melissa Korn and Kris. "West Virginia University Banked on Growth. It Backfired". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  9. ^ "West Virginia University students push back on program and faculty cuts after $45M budget shortfall". AP News. 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  10. ^ Adkins, Roger (2023-08-21). "WVU students call for Gee's ouster during protests Monday over proposed cut". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  11. ^ Taylor, Lauren (2023-09-06). "Students, faculty walk out in response to proposed program cuts". The Daily Athenaeum - West Virginia University. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  12. ^ Harris, Maddie (2023-09-06). "Students host concert, rally for programs up for cut". The Daily Athenaeum - West Virginia University. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  13. ^ Jones, Savannah (2023-09-06). "Students express concerns to admin at SGA town hall". The Daily Athenaeum - West Virginia University. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  14. ^ Cumpston, Ashley (2023-09-06). "Student rally urges SGA to take action". The Daily Athenaeum - West Virginia University. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  15. ^ Herald-Dispatch, The (2023-09-07). "Marshall to host rally against program cuts in 'solidarity' with WVU". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  16. ^ Richardson, Jesten (2023-09-09). "WVU, Marshall communities come together for solidarity rally on Marshall campus". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
  17. ^ Jones, Savannah (2023-09-13). "'You are against West Virginians'". The Daily Athenaeum - West Virginia University. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  18. ^ Beard, David (2023-09-14). "WVU BOG hears three hours of comments opposing Academic Transformation process". Dominion Post. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  19. ^ Quinn, Ryan. "West Virginia Students, Faculty Cry Out on Final Day Before Vote on Deep Cuts". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  20. ^ Ogden, Jules (2023-09-13). "BOG approves recommended program, faculty cuts". The Daily Athenaeum - West Virginia University. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  21. ^ Quinn, Ryan. "Despite National Pushback, West Virginia Will Cut Faculty, Programs". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  22. ^ Korn, Melissa. "West Virginia University Slashes Majors and Cuts Staff Despite Protests". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  23. ^ Svrluga, Susan; Anderson, Nick (2023-09-15). "WVU board approves cuts in academic programs". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  24. ^ Jones, Savannah (2023-10-25). "Students, faculty reject Gee's State of the University Address with counter-event". The Daily Athenaeum - West Virginia University. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  25. ^ Beard, David (2023-10-23). "Gee offers vision for WVU moving forward during State of the University Address; students, faculty counter at downtown campus rally". Dominion Post. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
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