EU budget leaves students feeling in the dark

Elmhurst University made a profit of over $14 million last year. Think about that for a second. After paying its employees, maintaining their buildings, and serving food, EU raked in $14 million. Frankly, it’s a little absurd that us students pay so much for a school which seems like it tries to do so little. Sure, EU is happy to spend money on homecoming, Greek life, or first-year orientation, but even the students helping plan those events complain of budget constraints and lack of communication from administration. The funding situation isn’t helped much by President Troy VanAken’s obvious favoritism to certain student groups. Case in point: EU’s new cocktail and watch party nights for sports teams. It’s great to see support for student activities, athletics is an easy way to show that support, but it only makes the lack of care given to the arts even more obvious. The EU Board of Trustees was invited to see “Legally Blonde” at The Mill Theatre on March 8. It was refreshing to see VanAken at a fine arts event but disheartening to see him on his phone or absent-mindedly staring at anything but the stage for the majority of the performance. This attitude doesn’t just stop at fine arts though. EU’s administration has a notoriously bad rap among students, especially student leaders, for ignoring communication and requests for just about anything: money, advertising, or personnel. In a previous issue, The Leader mentioned issues Music Business Student Union organizers were having with getting in contact with EU administration for help with major spring events, having to eventually call upon department chair James Hile just to receive a rejection. University operations are constantly held up by the whims of finances too. Last semester, the groundskeeping department attempted to purchase a new-to-them lawnmower. It would have helped significantly with reaching tight corners and parking lot medians. Months of red tape passed with nothing but reassurance for the department, eventually however, a rejection appeared with no explanation other than budget constraints. It’s no secret that EU has been more fiscally conservative since VanAken took the helm. In the second year of his leadership, EU went from a two-million-dollar operating deficit to a ten-million-dollar profit. On paper, the administration has been doing a fantastic job, but what is the price to student experience and to the long-term survival of the school? With the restrictions placed on students and staff, the price may end up being more than the few million VanAken is able to save each year.