Now that the dust has settled and the NIU administration has an idea of where it stands financially, it is time to take stock in the situation and determine priorities for the future.

Due to the budget cuts NIU, at best, will be operating at budget levels equal to those of last year. Because of inflation and rising costs, it only can be expected that some areas of the university will have to endure even more painful budget cuts in order to keep NIU’s priority areas financially intact.

NIU Provost Kendall Baker has drafted a paper concerning the working priorities of NIU. In it, Baker lists the projects and departments considered important to the university. However, some questions have been raised and they should be answered.

For example, the priorities in the paper are not listed in order. Although this is not serious, it does lend added confusion to an already complicated budget situation. It needs to be clear which items are more important than others.

Other questions include concern about reduction in undergraduate enrollment, the rise of graduate enrollment and the relationship between the two. An observation that graduate programs cost more than undergraduate programs indeed raises the question of why more graduate programs are receiving a priority during a financial crunch.

All these are legitimate questions—ones that deserve answers. What Baker needs to do now is provide the information people are seeking.

It must be made clear what NIU’s priorities are. The administration has to decide which items are to be saved and which are to be cut. And the sooner the better because those receiving the cuts most likely will demand justification.

NIU is in a tight situation and its community cannot be left guessing what the administration plans to do to offset a financial fiasco.

The official position of the administration pertaining to undergraduate and graduate enrollment, classes and off-campus facilities must be known. They are of great interest to many people and no doubt are going to be the topic of much debate. Any recommendations, no matter how sensible, can evoke some opposition. Budget developments have caused enough concern. It will only continue if people are kept in the dark.