A number of unions at the University of Windsor have sent a letter to the Board of Governors regarding cuts that may impact the schools reputation.
The letter, which was sent by the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1393 on behalf of the labour unions at the University, states that President Robert Gordon and his senior administrators are "unilaterally making cuts that are irreparably damaging the reputation and quality of education at the school."
The letter states that the decision to close critical services, such as University Players which was cut in mid-June, the EPI Centre, and the Special Constable Service associated office removed from downtown, jeopardizes how students will select which university they attend - and that the University of Windsor may not be their first-choice school.
The union leaders have stated that they are open to discussions with the University and the Board of Governors regarding these cuts.
Paul Fraser, President of the CUPE Local 1393, says they want the issue sorted out.
"We're trying to, if we can't get any traction with the union with administration, let's go to the Board of Governors - that's who Robert Gordon has to report to, so that's what we're basically calling them out. It wasn't just the University Players, it's the safety of the campus downtown."
He says he believes students who were planning to attend for the University Players - the production unit within the School of Dramatic Art - will decline their offers.
"I suspect there's going to be a huge number of people who are going to turn down their offer to come to the University of Windsor to go to the School of Dramatic Art. There's never been any discussion on how to keep the University Players even afloat, they just decided to close it. There could've been other steps other than just a complete closure, but they've never been discussed."
Fraser says they want to meet for a conversation with the Board.
"We're sending a letter, and hopefully something comes of that. I know they're not supposed to be meeting until I think October, but hopefully they'll be able to organize something, and they'll be able to sit with us. We'd love to have a conversation, we're always open to conversation."
Other unions that were listed standing in solidarity on the issue includes the Windsor University Faculty Association, Unifor Local 2458, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1001, and John Dekok of Special Constable Services.
A statement provided by the University of Windsor says: "The University of Windsor acknowledges the concerns raised in the recent letter regarding the difficult decisions necessitated by our budget realignment. The University has made best efforts to be transparent about the impacts and why these decisions are necessary.
Decisions including the closure or re-imagination of units are not made lightly, and administration has the full confidence of the Board of Governors that these decisions are made with the utmost care and consideration of all of the University's stakeholders.
We wish to clarify that the Special Constable Service has not reduced its commitment to our downtown campuses and any information that communicates otherwise is wholly inaccurate. Regular patrols are ongoing, and increased platoon sizes for Fall 2024 will allow for a greater patrol presence downtown than we have had in our University's history.
We remain committed to open dialogue and collaboration with the campus community, including our union partners, as we navigate these challenges."