Members of the Sonoma State University campus and alumni communities are criticizing university officials after they approved a series of major budget cuts.
On Thursday, students and alumni spoke during a virtual town hall meeting, which was broadcast live in front of hundreds of people who gathered at Seawolf Plaza.
One speaker called interim SSU President Emily Cutrer a “hired gun” who was brought in to gut the university without being transparent about it. Another speaker called Cutrer “a coward” for not holding a face-to-face town hall meeting.
To address a $24-million budget deficit, the university is planning to lay off dozens of faculty, eliminate certain academic departments and degree programs, and get rid of the entire athletic department. More than 1,400 people joined the Zoom meeting.
