I don’t know if you’ve heard the news, but Hamline’s going through some budget cuts and it’s affecting you! Yeah! I’ll give you a minute to say, “Are you for real?” Alright, sweet, and yes, I am, so let’s get back to the article now.
Ben Rosenberg and Sydney Haedrich of the Oracle already did the whole explaining what’s going on part of this (thanks, guys <3) in their super detailed article “Ringing and wringing at the front desk,” so I’m not going to try and compete with them by doing it again. The SparkNotes explanation is that Hamline’s work-study program has been defunded, so on-campus work positions have changed! Negatively!
Some jobs have had to cut both hours and employees while others have had to just disappear completely. (RIP Sorin front desk.) Now, if I asked you who the college is for, you’d probably say “the students!” right? Sorry to put some words in your mouth, but that’s what I’d say.
So, from the perspective of one of those students, coming back for the fall semester to find your source of income changing like that without warning makes me have some thoughts… that will be published in the school newspaper. The one you are reading. Hi!
Since we’ve gotten so close over these last few sentences, I want to open up to you for a minute. I like having money… It helps me pay for things like, you know, school. When I was a young eighteen-year-old, unaware of what a trustee was, I came to Hamline pumped to feel connected, and work-study was how I did it.
I’ve worked a lot of jobs here which have helped me pay to stay (and keep working?), but the paychecks were never why I stayed. Trust me, you’re not going to get loaded answering calls at the Central Service Desk…you might meet your best friend or get some homework done on the clock while you are, though.
Working across campus, I’ve started loving this place. I’ve met some of the coolest people ever at Public Safety, Bush Library and whatever other job I thought looked interesting enough to apply for. And you know what, I actually felt like I was making a difference by being here. I was like, “Damn, maybe our slogan is actually true!” but with these cuts, how are we supposed to take the lead now, huh? I rest my case.
But in all sincerity, this decision is a major misstep and blatantly disrespectful to the students who make this school exist in the first place. Beyond the convenience of walking between work and class, these jobs connect students to the place where they spend all their time and money.
Making a decision that’ll change that without communicating sucks. It’s frustrating and also a little weird. There’s always going to be ways to get involved here at Hamline but a part of me feels a little sad for incoming students who are going to miss out on the thing that made me love it.