The Facts: This year, Chancellor Woodson inherited the largest budget cuts in the history of the UNC System. In response to the cuts, Woodson asked Provost Arden and Vice Chancellor Leffler to create the strategic realignment plan.

Our Opinion: This realignment plan is meant to better N.C. State as an academic institution; therefore, the recommendations for academic programs should be the last to be acted upon. Woodson should implement the other recommendations first to uphold the high educational standards of our University.

Nearly a month after the anticipated budget cuts were announced, the chancellor introduced his plan of strategic realignment for N.C. State. While this plan has the potential to aid N.C. State in balancing the budget, preservation of academic programs should be of the upmost priority when implementing the recommendations of the realignment plan.

This plan introduces four major recommendations for realigning N.C. State to maximize its resources. Of these four, only one recommendation directly impacts academic programs at the University. When Woodson begins the evaluation and implementation of these recommendations, realigning the academic programs should be the last resort.

The realignment plan’s other recommendations include administrative consolidation and realignment, the consolidation and realignment of business services and reducing organizational bureaucracy. When it comes down to it, these three recommendations all deal with the same thing -—eliminate the bureaucracy within the University.

These recommendations range from combining divisions for student resources, consolidating business services, to eliminating the process for passing polices. When combined, these changes have the potential to save the University time and money — resources that could be used elsewhere.

Many of the divisions and offices suggested for realignment are nothing more than bureaucratic positions. By cutting these positions and realigning their resources to more useful matters — the budget cuts — N.C. State would be able provide and protect academic opportunities for its students.

Throughout this entire planning process, when questioned, Woodson has constantly reverted back to his vision of historically realigning the University with its roots.

One of the foundations of this University is the furthering of students’ education. According to our current mission statement, N.C. State University provides leadership for intellectual development. This cannot be achieved if we put our academic programs on the front line in the budget battle.

In the recommendation for academic realignment, the plan suggests nearly 60 academic programs for further evaluation and possible elimination, 30 of which are undergraduate programs.

Even the elimination of select courses could pose threats to students who need them to graduate, and if we compromise the knowledge and exploration our University offers in education, we are discouraging the very truth we as a University were built on -— academic excellence.

If Woodson must cut from the education system he should cut from the areas not directly affecting students’ education and academic progress. After all, that is the real reason N.C. State exists.