Update: UNI Responds To Allen's Bold Comments Captured on Twitter Feed

Updated with response from University Relations at 10:14 a.m. March 1.

The University of Northern Iowa student newspaper, The Northern Iowan, used its Twitter feed to report on UNI President Ben Allen's appearance at a student government meeting on Wednesday, and captured strong statements made by Allen.

Allen said at one point, "I don't trust them" of the Iowa Legislature, and that "We've been suckered in for the last 10 years by the legislature." More of the Tweets are listed below.

UNI spokesperson Stacey Christensen said in an email the quotes were accurate but that these were partial statements Allen made as he explained to students that the university has received less funding from the Legislature the last three years than what legislators had led the school to believe it would receive.

Read a PDF of the Twitter feed attached to this article.

Here is our earlier coverage:

A Twitter feed by UNI's student newspaper The Northern Iowan captured candid remarks by UNI President Ben Allen about the closure of Price Lab.

The comments came during an appearance by Allen at a Student Government meeting at the Maucker Union on Wednesday.

According to the paper's executive editor, John Anderson, who was Tweeting from handle @NIonNISG, Allen described how -- despite the controversy and outcry over his recommendation to close , as well as over other proposed budget cuts -- he believes everything he's recommended is in the best interest of UNI and its students.

Allen went on to discuss the Iowa Legislature, addressed displeasure among the faculty and discussed making difficult choices as president, according to the Twitter feed. 

In response to a request from Cedar Falls Patch for an interview with Allen, she said questions for the president should be directed through the University Relations office.

Anderson said via phone today that the student senators seemed sympathetic to Allen's speech, giving him a standing ovation at the end.

"The perspective of the students seemed to be on what UNI can be doing now, instead of focusing on what’s already been done," he said. "It was a very interesting discussion."

Here are a few of the Tweets pulled directly from Twitter:

Allen: This is an opportunity out of a financial challenge to help serve our students to maintain our #1 ranking.

Allen: I hope you will say you don't agree with everything I do, but I try to do everything I do for the sake of the students.

 

Joel Anderson, from the gallery: If the legislatures decide to refund 6 years of cuts and care about higher ed again, would plans change?

Allen: Can I be blunt? I don't trust them (the legislature).

Allen: We've been suckered in for the last 10 years by the legislature, and I don't think that's a good, wise policy to follow.

Allen: I'm 65 years old, and I could have glided out of here. And I think about, that's not right for the students.

 

Allen: If I'm wrong, then I've made a huge mistake for the university.

Bancroft-Smithe: I'm concerned about how a vote of no confidence from the faculty would affect the university's image.

Allen: If it hurts our university's image, I would leave.

Allen: I hope you can tell people back home that this is a very good university making tough decisions to keep its programs vibrant