Youngstown State University has gone through an insane amount of change this past year. Counting last summer, we are now on our third (THIRD!) president. We started the school year off with uncertainty due to crimes happening right outside of campus, and we’ve seen some major events come our way. In the Yo, we’ve seen our fair share of hardships, but if it’s shown us anything, it’s that we are always able to rise above those adversities. We’re looking forward to a new academic year come August, a new chance for YSU to grow. As we close on our summer here at The Jambar, we thought this would be an appropriate time to revisit what we think are the biggest stories that happened on campus this past year:
10. Administrative Changes — In one year, Youngstown State University’s administrative landscape has been drastically altered. We’ve lost two presidents, one Dean, a provost, the vice president for finance and administration and the vice president of university development.
9. Armed Robberies — From September through August, the YSU Police Department found itself dealing with a slew of armed robberies that occurred just north of campus — an area where many students reside.
8. Siemens Software Donation — The College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math implemented new software with the help of a $440 million in-kind grant from Siemens Corporations, a U.S. subsidiary of the high-tech international company Siemens AG.
7. SGA Appropriations Questioned — Out of the 41 groups that had applied for funding by November, nearly 20 percent of the money budgeted for all of the student groups for the year went to just three of those groups. It was also found that money was given out arbitrarily, with no set funding equation.
6. Cynthia Anderson Leaves YSU — After a career of more than 40 years at YSU, Cynthia Anderson retired after only three years as president to Nevada with her husband.
5. TEDx — Williamson Hall housed the first ever TEDx Youngstown event that attracted national, regional and local speakers who talked about all things innovation.
4. Horizon League Championships — YSU’s women’s tennis, men’s outdoor track and field, women’s outdoor track and field, women’s indoor track and field, women’s cross country, and baseball teams all took home Horizon League Championships.
3. Budget Cuts and Layoffs — To account for a $6.6 million deficit, YSU laid off 9 employees and called for the following cuts to the budget in September: the freezing of discretionary spending, a reduction in operating budgets, a curtailment of technology spending and a cutback in energy spending.
2. Tressel Arrives — Jim Tressel, former YSU and Ohio State football coach returned to YSU, accepting the presidency this May. He began as acting President last Friday.
1. Dunn’s Departure — After serving just seven months as YSU’s president, Randy Dunn signed a contract to become the president of the Southern Illinois University system. He told no one at YSU of his candidacy for the position.
Farewell until August, readers.
