The Griffon News

Many Western student employees will rejoice at seeing a hike in their paychecks beginning in February.

It’s a good reason to celebrate, right?

One should think so.

However, it could very well be that a glaring problem is lurking in the details of this change.

Our university will be out an unexpected $240,000 for the next two semesters combined.

The question of the hour is, “Where will that huge chunk of money be coming from?”

Will students’ hours be cut?

Will students’ jobs be eliminated?

Will students’ tuition increase?

It’s difficult to say, since there were seemingly no preparations made to deal with the increase.

Western’s administration has said that they are trying to scoop up the surplus from different departments across the campus.

That’s a good idea, but it’s hard to imagine $240,000 just lying around on this campus.

It is fairly certain that we, the student body, will in some way pay for this blessing we have received.

Missouri Western does have a reserve account, created for just such a situation, however apparently that’s not being looked at as an option.

Why would they not tap into the reserve? It’s not fair that students should suffer because of legislature that was meant to help us?

Administration, please do everything in your power to keep from cutting our hours and jobs.

And you know very well that we wouldn’t like another tuition increase.

We know this financial challenge was unexpected, but that’s why you’ve been putting our money in reserve.