A resolution that addressed furloughs and cost-cutting measures was passed unanimously at a special meeting of the U-C Senate at the Levis Faculty Center on Monday.

However, members like Scott Jacobs, professor in Speech Communication, were still skeptical and said more needs to be done to inform the people of Illinois about the effect the crisis is having on the University.

“Part of the problem here is getting the public’s attention; this is not going to get anybody’s attention,” Jacobs said while waving a copy of the resolution in the air.

The special meeting was called earlier this month in order to discuss long-term implications of the University’s budget crisis and to vote on the resolution, which was passed by voice vote.

Tuition increases and a higher number of out-of-state students were ideas senate members proposed to solve the crisis.

“More than halfway through the fiscal year, we continue to send the state bills that are not being paid,” said U-C Senate Chair Joyce Tolliver. “…And no one knows if we will ever receive our full appropriation for the year.”

She said the University still has not received more than 7 percent of the appropriated funds promised to the University for FY 2010 from the state of Illinois. She added that 18 percent of the University’s budget is made up of state appropriations.

Other members also argued that communication with students, legislators, and the public would be an important aspect of finding solutions to the problem.

Gabriel Solis, U-C Senate member and professor in Music, said it was important to stress the value of the University and public education to Illinois taxpayers and lawmakers.

Interim Provost and Chancellor Robert Easter said the University must work with alumni, current and prospective students, and their parents.

He later acknowledged the crisis will bring some unwanted changes on campus.

“What is apparent to us is that we are going to have to become smaller in terms of our obligations to be consistent with the resources that we have,” Easter said. “Becoming smaller basically means that we have fewer people being paid from state and tuition resources.”

However, not all members agreed with reducing the campus’s budget.

“I think there’s a basic misconception in a lot of this discussion that in the long run, under our present situation, budget cuts can be good,” said Douglas McDonald, professor in Chemistry and U-C Senate member.

He said if the administration effectively cut the University’s budget for one year, Illinois state officials might see this as a reason to decrease its funds to the University for the following year.

He proposed increasing endowments from sources besides the state, but added it would take some years for that to happen.

He said tuition would have to increase for this to occur.

“It is not an issue of the budget,” said George Francis, U-C Senate member and professor in Mathematics. “The University of Illinois has a reasonable budget. We are living well within it. We are talking about a cash crisis.”

Interim President Stanley Ikenberry said he agreed and added that the University has “got a magnificent budget; we just don’t have any cash.”

Ikenberry said the University will likely continue to suffer adverse effects from the crisis but said he had optimism for the future.

“We’ve faced a lot of problems in the past,” Ikenberry said. “We’ve overcome them. We will overcome this one.”

The next scheduled U-C Senate meeting will occur on Feb. 22 at the Levis Faculty Center.