Cartoon by Maegen Moore

The University System of Georgia and Valdosta State are taking appropriate measures to ensure that state-funded universities like VSU will come out of the budget cuts as unscathed as possible. This is all well and good, but unfortunately it’s not enough. The upper ranks of the USG and our administration at VSU should not bear the weight of this recession alone; it is our duty as students to pitch in especially through campus organizations, and use the resources we have to ease the load on this university.
Here are some facts to make this decision a little easier for you.
According to an August Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, the USG has asked the universities to plan out how they would cut spending by four, six and eight percent- this following a five and a half percent cut (around $275 million) already. The Valdosta Daily Times states that at the end of this fiscal year, VSU will have cut more than $15 million from the $130 million budget (11.5 percent).
Not only do these budget cuts affect the salary of administration, faculty and staff, they cascade down to the students. Less money means fewer professors, which in turn means fewer classes, fewer services, less organization funding and less fun (don’t expect Sister Hazel to play the front lawn anytime soon). So where does this leave us, the students?
Well, it leaves us with a decision: either do nothing, or become active. This is an appeal to all student organizations to give back in some way. What we, The Spectator are asking out of the organizations on campus is to give back to VSU, in some form or fashion, the percentage of the budget that has been cut.
For example: If your organization has a budget of $1,000, then figure out a way to give back $115 to VSU in your own desired way. This could be a take-off of “Adopt a Highway”: “Adopt a Section of VSU.” Ideas could range from landscape maintenance to taking care of a certain building to leave custodians to focus on other parts of campus, and anything in between. The possibilities are endless.
We say this knowing that it is easy to say empty words, but we have planned to back up our words with action. We have pledged to give the percentage of our budget back by giving VSU affiliates free advertisement. We’re walking the walk.
We hope our spark will light the fire of motivation to get involved. Remember that VSU has given everyone a home and the tools to go to the next level, so let’s repay the favor during this time. So please come up with a way to give back, and when you do, let us know: we’re interested.

This editorial was written by Lee Johnson (gljohnson@valdosta.edu) and it expresses the opinion of the entire editorial staff.