It held little resemblance to a '60s-style protest and none of the energy. Yet students protested Monday at Utah Valley State College over the use of student funds and the firing of a popular student adviser.
No long hair, no beads and no unwashed students were present. Just normal, everyday clean-cut young men and women - fewer than 40 of them - attended the rally waving placards and chanting on occasion at points of emphasis brought up by speakers Sheila Banister, Craig Judd and newly elected student body president Steve Beck.The event opened with a polite welcoming and closed with a thank-you-for-coming from Banister. "We're not here to cause problems. We just want a change and a better future for UVSC students," she said before reciting a list of grievances against the administration that included:
- The lack of a copy center. The copy center was replaced by a credit union, which for a while left students without a place to make copies. Copies can now be made at the bookstore, but Banister indicated the service is less than the students once had.
- The use of $1 million in student funds that went toward seats for the David O. McKay Event Center. Banister said the funds were not disbursed properly because the students were not notified according to the Associated Student Body Constitution. Before more than $10,000 in student funds can be disbursed, students have to be notified including through the student newspaper, she said. That wasn't done, she said.
- The use of student funds to pay retiring employees.
- The firing of Nancy Hill, a popular student adviser and associate dean of student life. "We want her reinstated," Banister said. She was paid by student funds, and students should have a voice in her termination, she said.
"Students deserve a vote," students chanted.
"We want a vote on every committee that makes decision for us and our education," Banister said.
"We want a choice. Listen to our voice," students chanted.
Student leader Judd said students have invested in the school and expect to get something back. "What we asked for will help us be a better school," he said.
"Students deserve input and representation," said Beck, newly installed as student body president. Students want to work with the administration, he said. Students then let fly a bevy of yellow, white and green balloons symbolic of their action.
Earlier a student press release said, "The students have continually been taken advantage of, lied to and given inaccurate information" regarding programs, fees and dealings between the administration and students.
But school officials told the Deseret News that UVSC has always had an open-door policy regarding the use of student fees.
President Kerry Romesburg expressed surprise over student allegations over use of fees without student input. "On this campus?" he said.
Students pay $140 a semester earmarked for such things as student activities and student activity salaries. Gil Cook, college relations vice president, said students set their fees, go through their own budget process and determine how the money is spent. The $1 million used for seats at the McKay center was earmarked for that purpose by a previous student council that is no longer at the school, he said.
Regarding the use of student funds to pay for retirement, an adviser retired in December, and her retirement is being paid out of student funds. Romesburg said that was standard procedure and proper.
As for the firing of Hill, Romesburg said she was dismissed according to policy but would give no reasons. Hill was working under a probationary status and placed on terminal leave last week with a 30-day notice. Romesburg said he expects the college will face litigation over the firing. Hill was not at the college Monday and could not be reached for comment.