The Memorial University Students Union is calling on university administration to immediately halt job and academic program cuts.

MUNSU, along with the Memorial University Faculty Association, the Canadian Federation of Students, and CUPE local 1615 (which represents administrative, instructional, technical, and technical support staff), gathered at the University Centre yesterday to outline their concerns.

In August, MUN announced that it had eliminated 107 positions as part of ongoing efforts to address significant financial shortfalls.

MUNSU argues that students are left to bear the ultimate cost when “essential” staff positions and academic programs are eliminated.

They say first year courses have nearly doubled in numbers, writing and academic centres have been depleted, and courses like English-as-a-second-language have disappeared – all, they say, due to cuts.

Executive director of external affairs Taqi Yeasir says those issues call in to question the quality of education students are receiving.

“What happens to the quality and accessibility of education when the people who provide that education are removed,” asks Yeasir.

“Ultimately, students are the ones who experience the consequences. We are already seeing signs that students are being asked to do more, with fewer resources.”