As of Feb. 15, the ISU Department of Residence will no longer be employing student help outside of the food service department. These students depend on the money they make working for the university to pay their tuition, housing and day to day expenses. After Feb. 15, these students will no longer have this income. I am one of these students.

But not everything is getting cut back. The new UDA buildings are still going to get built. Hawthorn Court is still getting all new signs to denote its incredibly important name change. Buchanan Hall is still going to get completely renovated, although it would be cheaper to tear it down and rebuild it. Millions of dollars cheaper. Housing director Randy Alexander doesn’t have to worry about his job security.

And it is Mr. Randy Alexander that I would like to sit down and have a talk with. I would ask him where I’m supposed to get another job that works with my hours, and that I can walk to from campus. Where else can I work 15 hours a week, full time during breaks, doing work that I truly enjoy. We are skilled labor, Mr. Alexander, and how dare you treat us as anything else. Just because the word “student” is in front of “employee” does not mean that my job is not a specialized one that requires knowledge and skill. We are not expendable.

I would expect organizations like GSB to fight for their constituents. We have been given two weeks notice to go out and find another job. Whether or not that job is found will decide the future of many of these students.

This is one more blazing example about how this university cares more about money than about its staff or its students.

Mark Olofson

Sophomore

Chemistry