By: Julio Menache / Staff Writer
The Board of Trustees has agreed to postpone cutting four popular degree programs.

During a June 12 meeting, the trustees unanimously voted to allow the administration, until the next Board meeting, to present an alternative budget that would allow the programs to survive, as well as give outgoing President Modesto Maidique and his successor Mark Rosenberg, time to look for donors for the programs.

The move to save the programs was met with applause by audience members, many of whom were students and faculty hoping that their degree programs would not be cut.

“This was a very rational decision,” said Senior Jeremy Paulovkin, who addressed the Board on behalf of students in the religious studies program. “It was worth the slight discomfort and nervousness [of addressing the BOT].”

The Board, however, agreed to cut 11 other degree programs.

“No one wants to see anything cut, but we just don’t have the money,” said Trustee Patricia Frost.

Before the Board made its decision, BOT Chairman David Parker designated time for members of the public to speak out. Each speaker was given two minutes.

“I chose seven speakers from across constituency of the University,” Parker said during the meeting.

Religious studies student Jeremy Paulovkin presented the Board with a petition of 1,771 signatures, asking for the religion bachelor’s degree program to be saved.

“Fifty percent of the Masters students in religious studies program come from the University’s undergraduate religious studies program,” said Paulovkin during his speech. “If you eliminate this program, the major will not survive.”

“We can raise significant money for the university over the next year or so,” added Nathan Katz, dean of Religious Studies. “Don’t cut this program preemptively.”

Robert Wolff, program leader for Recreational Sport Management, another program that was being considered to be cut, claimed that the numbers presented to the Board were outdated.

According to Wolff, Hugo Jimenez, assistant director of technology, sent him the current numbers last week.

“In today’s meeting they used outdated numbers,” Wolff said. “We’re not losing money, we’re making money, and I’m surprised they didn’t switch to the new numbers.”

“We’re a money maker. They would gain nothing by getting rid of us.”

According to interim provost Doug Wartzok, the elimination of the four programs would save the University $1 million. An additional $3.5 million have been saved by restructuring moves by various schools within the University, such as cutting faculty and staff.

The next BOT meeting is scheduled for Sept. 11.