ELLENSBURG, Wash.- Central Washington University students, staff and faculty continue to raise their voices against recent budget cuts. Wednesday, May 7 hundreds of students protested the recent defunding of programs.
Brandon Mattesich and Jackson Roberts are Editors-in-Chief at CWU’s student-run newspaper, The Observer. Both students worked to organize the protest, planning the walkout weeks in advance.
“I think our main goal here was just to kind of show the administration that they may say they’re speaking for the students in this matter, these defundings, but the students spoke for themselves this time,” said Mattesich. “I think we got our message across pretty loud and clear.”
Students held signs during the walkout protesting the defunding of multiple programs including theatre and film, rugby, marching-band and student media.
Thursday, May 15th at 1:30p.m. the CWU Board of Trustees is meeting to make the final call on budget cuts, voting to pass the decisions or not. Students with The Observer plan to be in attendance, sharing their view on the importance of student media.
“We kind of serve as a watchdog and we serve a very unique role on campus reporting news that the students bring to us”, said Roberts. “I think it’s really important that we’re reporting on news that’s by the students for the students.”
If the Board of Trustees does pass the budget cuts Mattesich and Roberts said they will have to start looking for alternative funding, moving the publication completely online.
When it comes to the future of student media, Mattesich said he’s hopeful.
“If there is anything I’ve learned throughout this whole process, it’s that it is not just us at The Observer that sees the importance of free press,” said Mattesich. “We saw students and staff coming out and showing us that.”
Both Mattesich and Roberts said regardless of the decision, they are confident that with the help of the community, they will be able to find some sort of funding.
“I hope other students get the opportunity that Brandon and I have had is working in this kind of real world environment where we kind of use this as a stepping stone into the future of our careers,” said Roberts. “Our resumes would be a lot thinner without working at the Observer or having Pulse Magazine or any of these other programs here at Central Washington University.”
