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* A letter written by Eastern Illinois University President David Glassman to the four legislative leaders and the governor dated May 2nd warned them that university administrators will “find ourselves challenged to make payroll for the second half of July and the first half of August” if it doesn’t get its full Fiscal Year 2016 appropriation very soon.
The university has already laid off 400 employees. The stopgap approp passed last month just won’t be enough to keep the doors open, Glassman said. “Our gap has not been filled,” he warned.
Click here to read the whole letter.
…Adding… From EIU…
To clarify - we won’t “close” in late summer. We’ll have to raid restricted bond funds to cover payroll until fall tuition if no additional state funds come through.
Ugh.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 2:57 pm
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If Reggie isn’t given a scare, then Charleston and EIU will be a shell of what it is now, which is a car with three wheels, a wooden 4th wheel and hamsters acting as its engine.
“Vote Accordingly” - vote accordingly come November, let Reggie know you remember every time he decided Charleston and Eastern just weren’t fightin’ for…
Charleston will implode. Eastern will be its dowfall and Eastern itself won’t have to worry about Charleston, Eastern won’t exist to worry about such things.
“Thanks, Reggie, we don’t need to exist. Have fun in Springfield!”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:04 pm
Please don’t call Reggie Philips. This is NOT his fault.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:04 pm
Hopefully, this begins the discussion on whether Illinois can support so many public institutions of higher learning when the state of Illinois doesn’t have the jobs for these people.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:06 pm
Steve:
Yeah. This is a great way to have that discussion. Chaos.
It amazes me the way some of you can twist yourself into pretzels in order to justify what is occurring.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:08 pm
- Steve -
Rauner never ran as a candidate wanting to shut down Eastern.
I wonder why.
So you think destroying Higher Ed is the same as “supporting too many Universities”?
Pathetic
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:09 pm
Reggie, are you paying attention?
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:10 pm
Be very clear, you can be frustrated, but still want Eastern destroyed…
Right, Representative?
@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack, 9/28/15
Exactly right.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:15 pm
Better hurry up on that budget and reform grand bargain, folks.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:20 pm
Much like my comments on AFSCME I’m having trouble feeling any sympathy for this area of the state after looking at vote totals from 2014 election. Rauner won 64% of the vote in Coles County. If people don’t realize what their economic engine is they are no better than the people in the book “What’s the Matter with Kansas”
Comment by Almost the Weekend Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:20 pm
@Almost The Weekend….those vote totals may paint a picture of the area but not necessarily the students. While you make a valid point that votes matter, punishing students is wrong, just plain wrong!
Comment by Higher Ed Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:32 pm
Terrific…we had about a month of calm and hope here in Chucktown, now this news is going to start freaking us out again…
Comment by EIUer Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:35 pm
AtW- may have a point. In areas that overwhelmingly wanted Rauner and his GA critters in charge, the “shut it down” agenda might be considered less offensive.
Comment by Qui Tam Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:36 pm
The students are the Red Herring…
Until Charleston voters and residents around Eastern buy in to “Voting Accordingly”, the student votes will just remain in a pool of anti-Reggie voters already accounted for.
The hard work is trying to get all in Charleston to recognize Reggie wants to destroy their town, siding against the economic engine.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:36 pm
EIU’s enrollment has gone from 11,178 in 2010 to 8,520 in 2015 https://www.eiu.edu/ir/tenth_day_enrollment.php
ISU has grown to the point that they had a record freshman class last year
( https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2015/09/illinois-state-has-record-breaking-freshman-class-increased-enrollment/)
So it is not all out the budget crisis scaring student from state schools. Rather we have too many of them and some are better than others.
Comment by t sowell Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:38 pm
===So it is not all out the budget crisis scaring student from state schools. Rather we have too many of them and some are better than others.===
So, did Rauner run on closing Eastern? Western? Chicago State, one of the SIU Campuses?
No. “Why?”
Yeah, that’s why.
The lesson of Rauner continues… This time… Charleston. Next time, Macomb? Carbondale?
Vote Accordingly may not remove a single Raunerite, heck, “Fire Madigan” is a disaster…
But… Reggie isn’t Madigan, Reggie isn’t Rauner either. Reggie’s choices are indeed owned by Reggie…
That’s the ball game. “Who” is fighting for Eastern… “Who” is destroying an economic engine?
Votes matter. Will a vote matter come November?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:49 pm
Higher ed
I agree, Rauner went to Dartmouth and used his money and clout to get his child into a prestigious CPS School. The public school system in Illinois is irrelevant to Rauner because he’s never seen a benefit from it. I guarantee in 2018 clouting his child into CPS will be a huge campaign hit on him in 2018. Especially considering he’s bankrupting CPS and higher education.
Students much like people dependent on social services are victims of budget crisis. I feel no sympathy for employees of public institutions, prisons, etc. who voted party line instead of with their pocketbook.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:51 pm
==- Norseman - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:10 pm: ==
Norseman, Reggie already said it is NOT his fault.
Comment by Mama Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 4:40 pm
If you State Representative is not fighting for his district, the district needs to elect a new State Representative.
Comment by Mama Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 4:42 pm
Mama, I don’t care what Reggie says. It’s up to the EIU community to determine whether he’s acted in their best interests. Based upon their analysis, they should vote accordingly. If I were them, I’d vote against Reggie.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 4:56 pm
For those of you saying it’s not Reggie’s fault: He has had several opportunities to vote for full funding for higher education and voted NO each time, except once, which was right before the primaries. While he does not deserve full blame, he most certainly is culpable. Vote accordingly. Vote against #WreckItReggie
Comment by Laid Off EIU Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 7:02 pm
Unfortunately, Reggie is pretty much unopposed in the general election. There is a grassroots effort to present the issues to Reggie.
Comment by East Central Illinois Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 7:09 pm
Reggie has not been a friend of EIU. My hope is that he either comes to his senses or somehow gets defeated in November.
Comment by East Central Illinois Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 7:11 pm
The good people of Coles County voted overwhelmingly for Rauner in 2014, so reap what you sow, folks. They couldn’t see Rauner for the man he is, so they pay the price. By the time they get to vote accordingly next time, it will be too late. EIU, RIP.
Not much resale value for EIU, though. Not sure Rauner figured that into his plan of destruction.
Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 7:43 pm
- East Central Illinois -
Choose carefully. Just saying “we can’t beat him”…
Then why complain now? What’s the point? Hoping Reggie does the right thing, how’s that working so far?
Not trying to be snarky…
Pressure seems to be Reggie’s only worry.
With respect.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 7:53 pm
Noreen Hammond in the WIU centered district does have a serious opponent in John Curtis.The district has prisons in Galesburg Rushville and Mt Sterling.
Comment by illinois manufacturer Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 8:39 pm
Reggie is running unopposed. Most EIU students are from out of town, and either don’t vote at all, or vote back in their home town. And, while people living in Charleston itself may be inclined to vote against Reggie, the majority of his district is outside of Charleston (e.g., farmers, etc.) who would likely be unaffected by EIU’s closure–farmland value is totally unrelated to whether the university is there or not. Until the Democrats can put up a credible opponent who can articulate the case for EIU, we’re stuck with a legislator who will vote however the Governor’s campaign contributions dictate…
Comment by EIUer Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 9:07 pm
EIU is pretty much a useless school. Shut it down, problem solved.
Comment by Tone Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 9:10 pm
I’ve never met an EIU grad and I’ve worked in Chicago for over 30 years.
Comment by Tone Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 9:12 pm
Oh - Tone -…
You are adorable….
- EIUer -,
We will see if the Dems try to get someone, or making Reggie’s life miserable… and voting against Raunerites outside of Phillips, that’s up to other Charlestonians too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 9:14 pm
Tone, it’s hard to meet EIU alum when you’re in a cave impervious to rational thought. Give me your address and I’ll send over the Chicago EIU grads I know to educate you on the quality of their education.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 9:27 pm
Wouldn’t FY17 approps be used to pay July and August payrolls or am I missing something?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 9:35 pm
AA, you rarely miss anything. Of course, the big if is whether there is an FY 17 higher ed approp. In the last few days there have been some disappointing ill winds.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 9:46 pm
Hey EIUer,
This farmer’s wife takes exception to your comment that farmers around Charleston would be largely unaffected if EIU closed. Everyone is already affected, including this farm wife, who teaches there, and the farmer’s daughter, an instructor who was laid off last summer during the first round of cuts. We are also all proud EIU graduates, by the way. Please don’t presume to speak for others when you know not of what you speak.
Comment by Farmer's Wife Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 10:28 pm
There you go EIUer, an advocate among the farm community. Use it. Remember you can’t beat city hall or Reggie if you don’t try.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 10:31 pm
Outstanding accomplishment. 64% of this county voted for Rauner, let’s see how they feel about an economic melt down.
I think we all agree we need 4 more years of Rauner.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:13 am
I always vote accordingly. Sadly much of this county doesn’t. This week Reggie called the peaceful protesters from UPI who came to his office and ask for full funding for EIU “nuts” and “confused.”
Again, vote accordingly.
Comment by Charlestonian Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:40 am
Tone is pretty much a useless troll. Shut him up, problem solved.
Fixed it.
Comment by Ole' Nelson Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:43 am