CISE Students Plan to Attend Graduation
Published April 19th, 2012
Graduation promises to be quite different this year for some college students at the University of Florida.
Major cuts are proposed for the Computer and Information Science and Engineering department and students aren't happy about it.
"We made some progress, but not a whole lot of progress, or the amount of progress we would've liked to make," said Shivashankar Halan.
He is one student who is involved in the save CISE events.
On Monday some students pushed a petition opposing a recent proposal to transfer researchers to other departments and eliminate teacher assistants.
"Not having TA ships and also moving faculty to other departments and making this department and teaching only department will eventually reduce the amount of research being done in the computer science department," said Shiva.
Two days after their event, five students met with Dean Cammy Abernathy from the College of Engineering to express their concerns.
"We understand these budget cuts need to happen. The goal is to minimize the effect that this budget cut will have on the department," said Shiva.
Shiva said he believes the student population supports what they are doing.
"Last night at the student senate they passed a resolution supporting our cause of opposing this particular proposal by Dean Abernathy," said Shiva.
Shiva says the dean extended the time to hear alternative plans to May 7th, but CISE students plan on attending commencement on May 5th.
"I wouldn't mind it as long as they don't interrupt the ceremony. If they want to talk to alumni afterward to gain support for what they want to do then that would be fine," said Heather Garvison who is a student at UF.
According to UF spokesperson Janine Sikes, the CISE department will not be the only one affected by the cuts.
"The 38 million we got to cut this year are going to be very painful. Not just for the College of Engineering, but for every college. these are very difficult decisions and in some cases they will result in lay-offs," said Sikes.
Sikes said it is possible some changes may be made to the proposal in the next couple weeks.
By: Yaremi Farinas
