Ashlynn Dean // 12/9/2025
Before the start of the new 2025-2026 academic year, Suffolk University fired 35 staff members and another 30 right before starting the fall semester. Several clubs have lost funding putting intense pressure on the Student Government Association (SGA). All while tuition has gone up and Suffolk President Marissa Kelly earns A million dollar salary.
A total of 65 Suffolk University staff members have been fired before the 2025 fall semester. The losses range from PR directors to Preforming Arts directors. Kristen Baker is the former preforming arts office advisor before the University decided to eliminate her position.
This is not the only loss for Suffolk Preforming arts. In Lieu of the budget cuts preforming arts groups were not given the funds to practice in the usual rented studios. and did not have adequate space or resources to properly function.
The preforming arts group in response went to the SGA for funding which usually does not provide money for the Preforming arts.
The SGA was able to provide twenty thousand dollars for preforming arts groups but has faced backlash over the use of funds from The Suffolk Journal’s editor in Chief Marin Halpin.
The Suffolk Journal, that is not funded by the SGA had its budget cut by two thousand dollars this year. With this cut came the elimination of most printed copies of the journal. The Journal is able to print about one a month with the new budget.
My interview with Suffolk Journal Editor-In- Chief, Maren Halpin.
Editor-in-Chief Maren Halpin criticized the SGA in a social media post accusing them of being irresponsible with their funding.
The SGA had bought a concert box for Tate McRae that was given to 20 students through a raffle process. Many other clubs including the Preforming arts, The Suffolk Journal, Venture literary magazine, And the dungeons and dragons club have been in need of extra funding .
Because of the tension that had grown between the SGA and the other clubs who need funding. The SGA has been trying to have open communication with the Universities administration.
The administration has caused its own tensions with the SGA. After the SGA provided multiple polls and surveys expressing that the Student body overwhelmingly did not support the decision to arm SUPD officers, the administration did not listen.
SGA president Charlie Reyna-Demes has made it a goal to start having better communication with the administration including Suffolk University president Marissa Kelly
Over the past semester Reyna-Demes has pushed for town-hall style meetings where Kelley would attend and be able to hear the opinions brought to SGA meetings first hand. The administration would be able to hear funding issues immediately instead of using the SGA as a middle man.
Marissa Kelly has spoken out about the recent budget cuts to Charlie Reyna- Demes and Marin Halpin along with other student journalists.
The budget cuts are being used as a proactive measure against the federal governments restrictions on funding for higher education. As of now Suffolk University has received no cuts in it’s federal funding.
In November 2025 President Marissa Kelly’s tax reports became public and showed she made a nearly million dollar income in the year of 2023
This news has caused many students to become more concerned with the financial handlings of the Suffolk University administration.
“I don’t read the journal and I’m not in any clubs but I do know our elevators are never working and our food is awful. Me and my friends call Suffolk broke all the time as jokes. Apparently not broke enough to give a million dollar salary”
– Giana Soares, A junior accounting major at Suffolk University
“Everybody knows about the million dollar salary. it was all over social media and just word of mouth. people aren’t happy about it.”
-Serafina Giorgi, A junior biology major at Suffolk University
Nyla Perez covered the SGA meeting where President Kelly’s salary was discussed. Some members of the SGA disapproved of the topic being brought up as it might worsen the communication between the SGA and administration while others approved thinking that it was a serious concern that needed to be addressed.
My interview with Nyla Perez. A sophomore staff writer for the Suffolk Journal who was tasked with covering the SGA this semester.
As the Fall semester comes to a close tensions between the Students, clubs, SGA and Administration continue to build in regards to funding and will be further addressed in the upcoming spring semester.
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