CES administrator questioned, accused during CCSG meeting

Members of the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments held nothing back this weekend when it came to firing questions and accusations at Robert Dunham, senior vice president for the Commonwealth Educational System.

Dunham attended the CCSG council meeting for about an hour and a half on Saturday to field questions about the lack of consistency and availability of student services at the Commonwealth Campuses.

CCSG released a survey before spring break about the lack of student services at the Commonwealth Campuses compared to Pennsylvania community colleges. The survey also revealed an inconsistency of services among the CES campuses. Outgoing CCSG President Tim Daniels said he has not received any concrete feedback from administrators about the findings.

Daniels battled with Dunham about the administration accountability for the lack of student services. Dunham told the council he allocates funds to the Commonwealth Campuses. After the money leaves his hands, he said he no longer has control over how the campus executive officers spend it. But Daniels and other members of the council did not buy Dunham's explanation.

"I could, if I wanted to, change the ground rules," Dunham said.

Daniels insisted on more accountability for the sinking status of the Commonwealth Campuses from the administration.

"The fear I have is each campus is looking out for itself. Sink or swim," he said.

Continuing the crossfire, Dunham responded with an invitation to be told what he should be doing, after telling the council it should walk in his shoes for five years and do his job.

"Let's not beat around the bush," he said. "If you think there's something I'm not doing, tell me that."

Dunham persistently tried to explain the limited amount of money in the budget to increase student services across the CES. He asked if the representatives were willing to make a list of the top three services that are not being provided at their respective campuses and trade the less necessary ones for the mandatory services.

"There are trade-offs. Are you willing to see larger class sizes?" he asked. "The more you spend in one area, the less amount you spend in another area."

Members of the council orally attacked Dunham, telling him the University has the money to provide these services, it just chooses not to.

"Unfortunately we are not all Penn State," said Angel Aponte, Student Government Association president from the Abington-Ogontz Campus. "We're not getting a big enough piece of the pie from U. Park or Old Main, or whatever it's called."