In a Nov. 7 article, the New York Times reported universities across the nation have slashed their budgets due to financial constraints. "(From) April 2002 through Sept. 30 2002, it's (been) the worst two quarters in the financial market since the 1930s," Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter French said, regarding universities' reasons for reducing expenditures. Brandeis, no exception to the trend, has cut its budget for fiscal year 2003 by $2.1 million. On Aug. 30, President Jehuda Reinharz sent a memorandum to faculty and staff regarding the impact the faltering financial markets have had on the University's endowment and budget for the current fiscal year. Reinharz reported that, at the time, the University would need to cut $2.5 million from the budget for fiscal year 2003.

"We outlined a $2.5 million gap for (fiscal year 2003)," French said, "and we said that we were going to be able to close that gap, based upon . additional revenues that have come through - the result of increased undergraduate enrollment and a $2.1 million reduction in the operating expenditure base."

The University budget for fiscal year 2003 is approximately $183 million, according to Associate Vice President for Budget and Planning James Hurley.

The reductions - 1.1 percent of the total budget - were intended to be spread between all affected University functions. "They basically took proportional reductions . in terms of repairs, snow removal, plumbing, etc., but not so much that they would have to reduce services in order to do so," Hurley said.

The University functions exempted from budget cuts, according to Reinharz's memorandum, were faculty, Public Safety, Custodial Services, Dining Services, student financial aid and student wages. In addition, the University planned to make no staff reductions. "I am hopeful that (savings in this area) can be largely accomplished through holding positions vacant," Reinharz wrote. "I expect that the majority of the target will be met through a reduction in non-salary expenditures, such as equipment, travel and supply expenses."

The University, however, did lay off 15 staff people last year, according to French. No one has been laid off this year.

Additionally, the University decided to restrict the amount it cut from the academic budget. "Out of the $2.1 (million), about $1.8 (million) came out of non-academic (services)," Hurley said.

Addressing possible student concerns regarding spending cuts, French responded, "There was a reduction in non-salary budgets in facilities that don't directly impact housekeeping and the provision of basic maintenance services to the campus."

"Part of the intent here was that we were trying to advance the reductions in a way that would not have an impact on students," he added.

Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer said he has not been told to eliminate any previously approved programs for the current fiscal year. "Nothing's really been cut. We've been asked to think about where we could reduce," he said.

"Any of our projects that we've put through up to this point, we have gotten an okay on," Director of Residence Life Maggie Balch said, echoing Sawyer's comment "I don't know that there is anything that we've done or planned for that they've said: No, you can't do this."

(The University administration doesn't) want students to feel any budget issues," Associate Director of Residence Life for Campus Living Rob Andrews said. "Because (Residence Life is) such a visible student service, we don't feel (the budgetary restrictions)," Andrews said.

French is cautiously optimistic about what the University may need to do in the budget next year. "I think we have positioned the University to be in a much stronger position today than the University was seven years ago in terms of being able to weather this kind of downturn in the economy and in the financial markets," he said. "But, we do have some hard choices to make ... unless things dramatically turn around."

French, however, said the outlook does look bleak. "Our position is worse than what we had estimated here. We are examining options in terms of how to deal with that right now," he said.

"It's pretty obvious that just about every college and university in the country is doing the same thing we are in looking at (our) options," French said.