LINCOLN- On Friday, a panel of faculty from across the Univerity of Nebraska told lawmakers and government officials that they were forcing NU to "collapse into a more limited version of its former self." These remarks came in the face of mounting budget cuts and stalled state investments into the university system, prompting faculty at UNL, UNO, and UNK to issue a joint statement arguing that the state government is starving Nebraska of educational opportunities.

"Right now, the Unicameral and Board of Regents are choosing the second option for our state," said the statement, "That's a choice that cheapens our future, and that's a cost we can't afford." Melissa Lee, chief communications officer for NU, reviewed the join statement and said that the Board of Regents has been forced to challenge how the university system thinks about how best to grow and compete in today's changing market.

Regent Tim Clare, chairman of the Board, said NU's plan to deal with the budget cuts is not about limiting its mission, but to be competitive and nimble. Julia Schleck, vice chair of UNL's Department of English, described the cuts in terms of biological systems that can only absorb so much impact before their resilience is weakened. This spring, NU had requested a 3% annual increase in state appropriations, but was only granted 2.5% by the Legislature.

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