YPSILANTI, MI - Amid news that Eastern Michigan University plans to cut nearly 60 positions to erase a deficit between $4.5 and 5.5 million, faculty and staff are arguing the university isn't looking closely enough at its athletics programs for budget cuts.

Around 70 faculty and staff were joined by Michigan gubernatorial candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Bill Cobbs on Thursday, March 15, outside of Welch Hall, asking EMU to look closely at its "sacred cow" - the athletics budget - that was subsidized by $27.3 million in 2015, according to NCAA financial disclosure forms.

"For this administration, athletics is a sacred cow," said Judith Kullberg, EMU professor and American Association of University Professors president.

"They need to make some hard decisions about athletics," she added. "We've been saying that for more than four or five years. In this era of cuts to higher education funding from Lansing, we can no longer subsidize athletics to the extent that we are."

Kullberg said EMU's faculty and staff are reeling from a series of decisions made by university administration and its Board of Regents, including the elimination of 42 open positions, while laying off an additional 17 people in an effort to reduce its projected budget deficit. Staff accounted for all of those impacted by those cuts.

In a message detailing the cuts, EMU Vice President for Communications Walter Kraft informed faculty and staff that the university examined all areas of its budget in determining reductions, including athletics.

Amid tough budgeting decisions, Kullberg alleges EMU continues to invest heavily in athletics, including a new $20 million sports medicine and student athlete training facility, which calls for the construction of a 60,000-square-foot facility that houses performance training space and equipment, team meeting rooms and coaches' offices near the northwest corner of Rynearson Stadium.

EMU Spokesman Geoff Larcom noted that there are ongoing efforts the raise funds to cover the cost of the facility.

El-Sayed expressed his desire to see cuts kept away from the classroom and essential services, calling for a closer look at the athletics budget.

"I know what our public colleges and universities mean to this state, and when we allow a board and a president to cut at the fabric of education, to allow for a system of athletics, which is completely ancillary, we cut at the fabric of what makes Michigan a great state and a great place," he said during the rally, surrounded by yellow signs that read, "NO CUTS."

Larcom stressed that all department heads at the university have been tasked with providing input on elements of the budgeting process when it comes to making reductions, including athletics.

"Athletics intends to do its part as far as the budgeting process goes, and they are an active part of the budget cuts discussion" Larcom said. "(Athletics Director) Scott (Wetherbee) has maintained all along that he feels athletics is a part of the university and everything that is going on, and that we're on the same team. Those discussions with athletics will continue."

EMU President James Smith warned of looming cuts to positions in January, noting the university is facing a budget deficit between $4.5 to $5.5 million for the 2018 fiscal year.

Smith said the budget was built on the assumption that EMU would generate 478,000 student credit hours for the 2017-18 academic year. Based on fall semester enrollment the projection was reduced to 473,000 student credit hours and eventually projected down further to 470,000, based on winter enrollment figures.

The credit hour projection, Smith said, represents an 11.6 percent decline from just four years ago. In June, EMU projected it would see less in revenue from tuition and fees, from $221.3 million in 2017 to $214.8 million in 2018 - representing a 2.5 percent drop in credit hours for the 2018 fiscal year.

Faculty, staff and students also expressed frustration with the decision-making process of the administration and Board of Regents in its decision to privatize its parking operations and food services in recent years.

Part-time lecturer April Pipe said she believes there are other areas where cuts could be taking place, but also expressed a desire for more transparency from the university regarding critical decisions about the budget.

"I do think there is a lack of transparency, when it comes to decisions that are made financially, and its impact on the university and the broader community," she said. "Often times, we're not brought to the table when it comes to these decisions."