Western Illinois professor urges unity after layoffs

(The Center Square) – Western Illinois University officials are focusing on equity gaps and underserved students after major budget deficits led to faculty and staff layoffs.

WIU Interim President Kristi Mindrup announced 89 job cuts in addition to the 36 layoffs announced in June. Fifty-seven faculty positions and 32 staff positions are being eliminated with the latest round of cuts.

Mindrup said student retention will be a significant focus as the school strives to foster opportunities for first-generation college students and traditionally-underrepresented populations.

“Today we gather to establish a point of focus for our university community to work toward a common cause, and that is closing equity gaps,” Mindrup said.

Merrill Cole, professor of English and WIU Chapter president of the University Professionals of Illinois, told The Center Square what he thinks the school must do to help bring people back to the university.

“We need to do all that we can to keep being the institution we are, an institution that, for generations, has served underserved students,” Cole said.

Earlier this year, the Equal Protection Project filed a federal civil rights complaint against Western Illinois, claiming that 16 scholarships at the school are discriminatory.

University trustees said earlier this month that WIU’s restricted funds have been exhausted.

Merrill Cole said he is trying to lift everyone’s spirit and bring people together.

“We need to work to create a better WIU for our students, for the communities that surround us, and for the people who work here. I am trying to bring everyone into the conversation, including Interim President Kristi Mindrup,” Cole said.

Cole added that the people at WIU need to keep being the institution they are and do an even better job.

“I am dedicated to bringing back every single faculty member who’s been laid off and every single faculty member who has received a layoff notice,” Cole said.

Mindrup described the layoffs as heartbreaking.

“Together from different vantage points and different depths, we are all grieving,” Mindrup said.