Matt Cooper
Managing Editor
As a result of BCC currently being at a $1.4 million dollar budget deficit this year, administration is making departmental cuts. This past summer, Grizzly Adventures, Butler’s entrepreneurial team building and student orientation program, lost two of its leading full time staff members.
Grizzly Adventures was originally created 15 years ago and served to bring in outside business in the area through recreational team-building and group communication exercises. Among activities that are held within the program are zip lining and rock climbing.
On Saturday, July 30, funding was withdrawn from both individuals whom had previously been employed full time by Butler in order to oversee the program.
Shane Steinkamp, who coached the Grizzlies football team for seven years during 1993 through 2000, served as director. He also worked in the marketing department and taught Student Connect for freshmen students at Butler. On board with Steinkamp as a program facilitator was El Dorado resident Judon Rice.
According to an email sent out to all staff by President Kim Krull, Grizzly Adventures had been running on its own budget deficit since 2012 and suffered from a lack of clientele during that time
Filling the two full-time positions for Grizzly Adventures will be two of Butler’s regular staff. Michelle Ruder, who serves as director of BETA (Business Education and Training Analysis) will oversee scheduling and marketing for team building exercises.
Additionally, Professor of Chemistry Robert Carlson will fill Rice’s place as a facilitator and organizer for all future activities.
Vice President of Academics Lori Winningham took a role in the decision to curtail the funding of Grizzly Adventures by cutting back its two full-time positions.
“It was not an easy decision,” Winningham said. “I have worked with Judon and Shane for a long time. But in this position sometimes you have to make those tough choices. What I’m going to focus on is what will benefit students and faculty directly. This is a wonderful thing that Butler has done, but it’s not a necessity.”
When asked if the staff cuts would affect other Butler programs, Winningham commented on Student Connect.
“I think the impact will be minimal, she said. “We can still continue to support those activities, just have it managed through BETA and have it be more cost effective.”
Winningham went on to say that her goal was to minimize the overall effect on students from any budget cuts that may come as a result of Butler’s budget deficit.
Carlson, who has been involved with Grizzly Adventures since 2003 as a facilitator, spoke on his experience with the organization.
“I’m the last of the Mohicans,” Carlson said. “There were 12 of us originally.”
He also went over his vision for the future of Grizzly Adventures.
“I’d like to see more public interest in coming out and doing this,” he said in reference to having groups participating in activities on the GA challenge course located south west of the campus in El Dorado.
Carlson also expressed interest in placing more emphasis on using Grizzly Adventures as a recruiting tool for Butler in order to bring in new students.
Shane Steinkamp and Judon Rice are moving forward with their careers. Rice has accepted a similar full time position in South Carolina while Steinkamp continues to interview for positions outside Butler.
