The Memorial University Students’ Union places much of the blame for infrastructure issues at the university on successive funding cuts from the province.

Yesterday, Auditor General Denise Hanrahan released a scathing report into MUN’s maintenance of its infrastructure.

MUNSU Director of External Affairs, Nick Keough, says students are not surprised by the report, though it is “devastating” and “shocking” to a lot of people.

The report indicates that the nearly $8-million MUN receives in its campus renewal fees from students is not nearly enough, and it would need $65-million per year just to return its facilities to poor status.

Keough says students cannot handle fee increases, and MUN President Dr. Neil Bose says increased fees are not being considered at this time.

Keough says what’s happening now is the “direct result of 11 years of consecutive government cuts to the university.”

He states that while there has “definitely” been financial mismanagement at the University, and it is the fault of the administration, government does have a role to play -noting that funding has been cut by 52 per cent over the last 11 years.

Keough states that MUNSU has been requesting an interview with the Premier “for 600 days.” Last month, they received word that the Education Minister would be reaching out to MUNSU and MNFA, but that has not happened yet.