SIU President Randy Dunn says cuts in state funding could be the end of the institution as it currently exists. In testimony before a Senate Committee Thursday morning, Dunn says people in the region know SIU is in trouble, and area residents want stability. 'Individuals want to know whether or not we're going to be open so that they can do four or five years at our institution. And not just those prospective students, our current students are questioning us.'
Wednesday, ahead of his testimony, Dunn released a memo to SIU staff outlining the cuts that would have to be made if the governor’s proposed 20-percent reduction is enacted. The scenario includes hundreds of jobs lost, classes cut, and programs either reduced or eliminated.