Students lose their work-study jobs

Otterbein students feel the crunch of the economic crisis.

     According to the director of the Physical Plant, David Bell, six students who were participants in the work-study program were “let go” from the Service Department for budgetary reasons.

     Lamar Hutchinson, senior health promotion and fitness major, was surprised to find out he was laid off because he has worked in the service department his entire time at Otterbein as a federal work-study student.

     The legislation for the federal work-study program says, “An institution shall make federal work-study employment reasonably available, to the extent of available funds, to all eligible students.”

     Sarah Aguilar, representative for the Federal Student Aid Information Center, said there are “no legal obligations (to keep students employed) … A decrease in funding level would allow an institution to scale back.”

     According to Bill Pearce, work-study coordinator, funding for the federal program “increased for this year over last year.”

     Chris Hayter, the financial analyst in the Business Office, said the budget for the non-federal program has remained the same.

     Bell said he has always exceeded his budget for the work-study program, but this year he didn’t want to further contribute to the already stretched college budget.

     Pearce said, “The important point is that this resulted in a negative impact to students. We simply can’t have this.”

     The layoffs were not as difficult for some students. Senior physics major Brady Seevers said, “I didn’t mind. There are plenty of places to work.

     Bell has already rehired two students and is working on finding funds to offer positions to the other four. So far, Hutchinson has not been hired back.

     “I’m not happy ... I don’t think it’s right. I really don’t know (if I can find another work-study job),” Hutchinson said.

     Bell said that not having these employees means sacrificing a higher standard of maintenance. Until then, he said, “We’ll have to stick with basics.” t&c