Second Message from Interim President Walker

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Dear Members of the Auburn University Community:

I am writing to update you on a press conference that I
conducted this morning together with Dr. John Pritchett and Dr. Don
Large.  The purpose of this news event was to share with the citizens of
the State of Alabama some of the information that I shared with you
yesterday concerning the potentially devastating budget reduction we are
facing here at Auburn.  It is essential that the members of the public
understand the seriousness of this situation and of the potential
impacts of budget proration on Auburn's people, our programs, and the
basic fabric of this institution.

To explain the seriousness of the problem I tried to offer a
frank assessment of what a $38 million reduction in Auburn's funding
could mean.  I shared examples of what it would take to make up this
amount.  As one example I pointed out that the budgets of the Colleges
of Agriculture, Engineering, and Education, taken together, add up to
less than this amount of money.  In the same way, even if we closed the
Colleges of Architecture, Education, Forestry, Human Sciences, Nursing,
and Pharmacy, the total funds freed up through these steps would not be
sufficient.

I want to emphasize to you that these examples are intended to
make a point about the potential seriousness of our situation.  They
convey this message in terms that people can identify with.  These
examples do not represent plans that anyone has made, or decisions that
anyone has taken.  I assure you that we will do everything we can to
develop, with your input, a course of action that minimizes the damage
done by proration.

Your concern and interest are much appreciated, and I will do my
best to keep you informed of developments that affect us in the coming
days and weeks.

                William F. Walker
                Interim President