PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Hundreds of Temple University employees and students rallied outside a Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday to call for transparency and accountability after recent staff cuts and tuition increases.
In July, the Temple Board of Trustees voted on a 3 1/2% tuition hike, while also voting to cut more than 300 staff positions at the school. According to employees, those cuts have led to less security on campus, increased class sizes and a dip in student retention rates.
Jeff Doshna, a professor of urban planning and president of the Temple Association of University Professionals, said staff members want transparency from Chairman Mitch Morgan and the other members of the board.
“Mitch Morgan and his handpicked board have made decisions year after year to cut budgets to lay off people, to eliminate jobs, to raise tuition [and] they do so in secret,” said Doshna.
They also want an independent performance review of Morgan, Temple President John Fry and Temple Health CEO Abhi Rastogi.
“We’re putting so much money into Temple,” said Trinity Powell, a senior political science major. “As students, we want to see that reflected, though we are putting up new infrastructure we want more put into the students and the teachers than the campus.”
In a statement, the university said it welcomed the sort of peaceful demonstration that took place.
“We have been committed to open communication and engagement with our university community while we navigate the current financial challenges,” said the university. “We will continue to provide information and opportunities for meaningful engagement as we continue to plan for Temple’s future.”
