Speech Assignment #2

President Floyd Speech

Julia Connacher

Washington State University cut $24.7 million from its budget and increased tuition by 14 percent at the beginning of this fiscal year, President Floyd announced this afternoon. 

Delivering his most difficult State of the Union Address, President Floyd explained the budget cuts along with his efforts of finding other funding streams to meet the university’s needs.

A 40 percent reduction in potential university research funding had occurred along with the budget cuts and tuition increase.

“At the end of the day, we are going to weather this crisis and come out as a stronger university,” Floyd said.

In December of 2008, Gov. Christine Gregoire proposed a 12 percent reduction in state funding for WSU marking the first steps in a legislative effort to balance state operating budget.

In May of this year, Gregoire signed a 2009-2011 state operating budget bill reducing WSU funding by $54.2 million and raised resident undergraduate tuition by 14 percent.

The governor’s actions leave many hoping that these budget cuts will balance state budget in the middle of this economic downward spiral.

I am not an advocate of across the board reduction, Floyd said. 

Budget cuts will be balanced in a strategic vertical way rather than across the board.

WSU has already taken small steps to fight against budget cuts.

President Floyd has visited 29 out of 39 counties to explain who and what we are and the impact we have as a university to the state.

As a university, we need to find support in other corporations and businesses to make sure WSU has the funding it needs to be successful, Floyd said.

“As a student here at Washington State, it makes me proud to know that the university is doing everything it can due to the budget cuts,” Danielle Ajeto, a freshman, said after listening to the speech.

Even thought the tuition increase and budget cuts are affecting my family and I, I hope that they will help our economy and provide a better education for future students, Ajeto said. 

Funding streams for WSU consist of state legislator, student tuition, grants and contracts, student fees, and auxiliary enterprises.

Grant funding has increased by $218 million and $470 million has been raised for support and benefits for WSU.

Within the next couple months, President Floyd will announce specific plans addressing this fiscal years budget cuts.

“During President Floyd’s speech, he seemed optimistic that the university is strategically planning all of the cuts,” Racheal Epperson, a junior, said.

Listening to the speech almost made me feel better because now I know what's going on and the smart minds that are figuring out what's best for students, the student’s families, faculty, researchers and the university as a whole, Epperson explained.

The students serve as the heart and soul of this university and I have committed to every student to give him or her the best education possible, Floyd expressed.

QUESTIONS FOR THE SPEAKER:

1.     How does the university decide where to spend their money?

2.     How much of an impact will the budget cuts have on our economy?

3.     How long will these budget cuts continue?

SOURCES:

WSU President Floyd (speaker)

Office phone: (509) 335-4200

Racheal Epperson (WSU Junior)

(253) 370-2546

Danielle Ajeto (WSU Freshman)

(206) 817-9389

OUTLINE OF STORY:

What Happened?

a.     Lede- WSU cut $24.7 million from its budget and increased tuition by 14 percent at the beginning of this fiscal year, President Floyd announced this afternoon. 

b.     Delivering his most difficult State of the Union Address, President Floyd explained the budget cuts along with his efforts of finding other funding streams to meet the university’s needs.

c.      Along with the budget cuts and tuition increase, a 40 percent reduction in potential university research funding had occurred.

d.     Quote from Speaker- “At the end of the day, we are going to weather this crisis and come out as a stronger university,” Floyd said.

Background/Why?:

a.     In December of 2008, Gov. Christine Gregoire proposed a 12 percent reduction in state funding for WSU marking the first steps in a legislative effort to balance state operating budget.

b.     In May of this year, Gregoire signed a 2009-2011 state operating budget bill reducing WSU funding by $54.2 million and raised resident undergraduate tuition by 14 percent.

c.      The governor’s actions leave many hoping that these budget cuts will balance state budget in the middle of this economic downward spiral.

Where budget cuts will occur:

a.     I am not an advocate of across the board reduction, Floyd said. 

b.     Budget cuts will be balanced in a strategic vertical way rather than across the board.

University Efforts:

a.     WSU has already taken small steps to fight against budget cuts.

1.     President Floyd has visited 29 out of 39 counties to explain who and what we are and the impact we have as a university to the state.

2.     As a university, we need to find support in other corporations and businesses to make sure WSU has the funding it needs to be successful, Floyd said.

3.     (Danielle Ajeto’s quote) “As a student here at Washington State, it makes me proud to know that the university is doing everything it can due to the budget cuts,” Danielle Ajeto, a freshman, said after listening to the speech.

4.     Even thought the tuition increase and budget cuts are affecting my family and I, I hope that they will help our economy and provide a better education for future students, Ajeto said. 

5.     Funding streams for WSU consist of state legislator, student tuition, grants and contracts, student fees, and auxiliary enterprises.

6.     Grant funding has increased by $218 million and $470 million has been raised for support and benefits of WSU.

7.     Within the next couple months, President Floyd will announce specific plans addresses this fiscal years budget cuts.

Reactions:

a.     (Racheal’s quote) “During President Floyd’s speech, he seemed optimistic that the university is strategically planning all of the cuts,” Racheal Epperson, a junior, said.

b.     Listening to the speech almost made me feel better because now I know what's going on and the smart minds that are figuring out what's best for students, the student’s families, faculty, researchers and the university as a whole, Epperson explained.

c.      The students serve as the heart and soul of this university and I have committed to every student to give him or her the best education possible, Floyd expressed.