Campus Reform: University of Nevada - Las Vegas

Student senate, that is.

With massive budget cuts looming at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, students are worried that programs will be cut -- and worse! -- that more than 6000 undergrads could be forced out of the school.

In the midst of fear and uncertainty, UNLV students need proactive students who stand up for fiscal responsibility and a reasonable budget. Fortunately, new elected senator and campus reformer Diana Washington will take up that charge, thanks to a successful campaign fueled by the Leadership Institute's Campus Election Workshop training.

A senate seat will give Diana an inside track to UNLV administrators and control of $1 million of students' tuition money. "So many students are in the dark about how the university budget works and how these proposed cuts will affect their status with the university," Diana said. That's why she knew she had to take the lead -- or surrender her school.

The economic downturn has hurt the state of Nevada harder than most, and with a monumental budgetary shortfall expected in 2010, Diana's leadership couldn't be timely:

[UNLV president Neal Smatresk] said the new cuts would mean a 27 percent total in spending since 2007. “That's a $57 million shortfall and you certainly can say we can continue to serve the students we're serving right now. In the face of it, we've pulled out all the steps to do what we're doing to date,” Smatresk said.

[...]

“There's no scenario I can create that doesn't cost us 2,300 students, and that's the lowest number. But it doesn't end there because when you cut 2,300 students, you're going to lose $8 million to $9 million of additional revenue and then you have to compensate for that. That's what the beginning of a death spiral sounds like,” Smatresk said.

Diana knew if she didn't speak up for fiscal sanity, no one would. She will be an advocate of sound fiscal decisions to get rid of unnecessary programs and to keep as many students on campus as possible. "Fiscal irresponsibility has gotten us into this crisis," Diana explained. "Cutting programs that siphon money is a much better idea than getting rid of students, who help the overall economy of the school."

Diana will be an advocate of sound financial decisions that will help keep as many students on campus as possible and getting rid of unnecessary and unneeded programs that have nothing to do with the education process. "You can see what a crisis UNLV faces and cutting programs that siphon money is a much better idea than getting rid of students, who help the overall economy of the school," she explained.

She credits the Campus Election Workshop she took from The Leadership Institute for helping put practical strategies behind her bid for a CSUN seat. "I encourage anyone interested helping bring change to their school to take a Campus Election Workshop," Diana said, "as they will learn how to craft their message from people who have helped win elections at schools all over the country."

It's time for your voice to be heard on campus. Get a head start on your school's student elections. Bring a Campus Election Workshop to your school at no cost to you. Click here to learn how the workshop will teach you to win.