Senate talks tuition, salary freeze and breast milk

‘ ‘ ‘ Speakers at Pitt’s Senate Council meeting joined to discuss breast milk and the economy…. ‘ ‘ ‘ Speakers at Pitt’s Senate Council meeting joined to discuss breast milk and the economy. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Professor Paul Munro, chair of the Plant Utilization and Planning Committee, proposed a resolution on breast pumping, which’ ‘encourages all units of the University to identify private space, if needed, within existing facilities for mothers who wish to express breast milk.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Another committee member said that Pitt’s School of Nursing already has two private nursing rooms. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Someone then remarked from the other end of the table that this is because it is, after all, the school of nursing. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Howls of laughter rose from around the table, especially from Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, who cackled into his personal microphone at the joke. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Before the meeting turned to the resolution, speakers confronted the challenges that the University is facing in the current economic conditions. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ For the first time in public, Nordenberg addressed the lawsuit accusing Westridge Capital Management Inc., of swindling hundreds of millions of dollars from Pitt and Carnegie Mellon. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Our staff has worked very hard to build financial strength at Pitt,’ he said. ‘Although there are limits to what we know right now, we hope to recover some of our assets and do not expect that it will have a short-term impact on Pitt.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Nordenberg also said that as the economic turmoil continues, serious budget challenges remain. He said that the Planning and Budgeting Committee plans for the upcoming fiscal year, with the hope that Gov. Ed Rendell’s federal stimulus will prevent Pitt’s budget from being cut. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ He expressed that even though Rendell does not plan to include Pitt in the proposed tuition relief act, ‘Controlling tuition increase has always been a high priority, and at this time, will become an even higher priority.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ President of the Senate John J. Baker agreed that economic times are difficult. He said that although the 6 percent cut would ‘eventually be restored,’ the faculty and staff’s salaries will still freeze next year and the Governor’s School funding was cut. These effects, he said, ‘hurt Pitt and hurt our students.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ In light of the economic situation, Baker said that Student Government Board members will visit Harrisburg on March 17 ‘mdash; Pitt Day ‘mdash; ‘shy;to lobby legislators. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ SGB President Kevin Morrison said that the board’ plans to lobby for more funding from the state. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ While the economy presents the University with several challenges, Nordenberg said that there are reasons for Pitt to remain positive. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘One of the things that distinguishes Pitt from other organizations is there is still a great demand for the high-quality education and strong research,’ said Nordenberg. ‘ ‘We therefore have incentive to continue to provide top-quality programs, despite what’s going on in the economy.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Nordenberg also said that Pitt is in a prime situation to receive stimulus funding from the government. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I don’t know that you could find an institution that’s in a better position to attract those dollars,’ he said. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ He also said that research at Pitt already provides 23,000 local jobs, which indicates that ‘we have the opportunity to play a big role in the economy’s improvement,’ he said.