WATERLOO — Emotions were high at a Wilfrid Laurier senate meeting because dozens of academic programs are on the chopping block.

It is part of a "resource allocation model" introduced in 2012 to assess the state of programs and facilities at both campuses.

The "integrated and planning resource management process" looked at dozens of programs, courses and facilities and made recommendations in a 340-page report on how to proceed.

The controversial recommendations include either phasing out or minimally maintaining nine administrative programs and 18 academic programs.

Other recommendations include enhancing some programs and either phasing out or minimally maintaining the Wilfrid Laurier University Press.

"What we saw here today was a lot of fear and anxiety," said Markus Poetzsch of the English department.

Many professors expressed fear of losing smaller programs and courses in the liberal arts and science departments.

"Smaller programs are now vulnerable," said Ali Zaidi of the global studies department.

He said it was a matter of "civic mindedness" to keep programs like Muslim studies — one of the programs at risk.

Several professors that stepped up to the microphone pointed fingers at what they called an inflated central administration that should be reduced instead of academic programs.

One sociology professor approached the microphone and donned an academic robe to prove a point. Peter Eglin got a few giggles from the audience as he then proceeded to pull books out of a knapsack.

"Nothing can be done here," he went on to say as he read out book titles and dropped them to the floor.

The books were about the decline of universities and Eglin echoed others when he said that administration was trumping faculty.

"If we collaborate we will work better together," Poetzsch said regarding the tension that was rousing between administration and faculty.

"It's not just a collateral deficit," he added. "I think we have a collegial deficit."

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The recommendations will be considered by the board in February.

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