“We can’t defend you if you defund us:” Students rally against proposed cuts to CLJC
*Emily Crebs contributed to this story.
Students, professors and members of the Center for Law, Justice and Culture (CLJC) gathered on College Green Saturday afternoon to protest against the proposed cuts to the CLJC.
Students were made aware Monday of the potential cuts to the program, as well as the possible reassignment of pre-law advisor Larry Hayman to general advising. The cuts would drastically gut the academic and pre-law programming as well as the master’s program.
Rallygoers gathered at 1 p.m. on College Green to protest cuts to the program.
“As pre-law students, we were really concerned because this program is something really special to us, and there’s nothing on campus like it,” Ohio U senior and rally organizer Olivia Gemarro said. “We’re here to organize and tell Provost Sayrs and Dean Plassman and everyone else affiliated with the decision making that we’re not going to stand for it, that the CLJC is more valuable than it’s being treated.”
Gemarro attributed the resources of the CLJC in helping her achieve a full-ride scholarship to law school.
Students held signs that read: “My Ohio promise, to never donate to yOU,” “We can’t defend you if defund us” and “@ the Board of Trustees, we don’t trust you” while Turn! Turn! Turn! By the Byrds played out of a portable speaker.
Protesters stood on the steps of the Civil War monument on College Green with a megaphone to voice support for the CLJC.
“The CLJC helps you out and helps you to discover the best version of yourself,” Political Science Associate Professor Jennifer Fredette said to the crowd.
Fredette pointed across the green toward Cutler Hall.
“Over there in Cutler Hall, Nellis, Shaffer, all of your leaders, they are not the bones of this institution. They are not the heart and blood — that's you,” Fredette said.
Jane Roche, an Ohio U sophomore and political science pre-law major, shared her experience with the CLJC and said the support and advising from Larry Hayman, “completely changed my life in terms of what I'd like to do career wise.”
Roche mentioned being able to utilize the resources offered by the CLJC to find student organizations that interested her and furthered her career.
Hailey Difford, an Ohio U junior and political science pre-law major, had Hayman as her learning community leader. Hayman also oversees all the organizations she’s involved in.
“He’s so great and amazing. I can’t imagine my OU experience without him,” Difford said.
Difford went on to describe the proposed cuts as “ridiculous and unacceptable.”
Jordyn Kenyon, a friend of Difford who heard about the issue and came to show her support, said, “pre-law is very important, too important to cut.”
“Everyone who’s here right now stands up for the same thing, and there is solidarity in what we’re doing right now, and we will definitely make a statement about what we’re going to tolerate as students at this university,” Gemarro said through a megaphone. "As students we are entitled to quality education and we’re not getting that if our programs are getting defunded.”
Following the speeches given in support of saving the CLJC, the rallygoers marched through College Green to Cutler Hall to post their petition against the potential budget cuts outside the building. The students also laid their signs on the front steps of Cutler Hall.
