Some students in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) are upset with their college for eliminating its annual spring open house.

"It's a shame (the open house was cancelled) because it is how the college reaches out to the community and future students," said Serena Hoff, a junior in ACES.

"Everyone is upset it's no more. It's a shame the engineering open house is still open," she said.

The College of Engineering and the College of Veterinary Medicine open houses have not been impacted by budget cuts. The engineering open house will be held March 12-13 and the Veterinary Medicine open house is April 3.

Last year, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people attended the ACES open house.

Gary Beaumont, spokesman for the college of ACES, said the decision to cancel the ACES open house was made in August for budgetary reasons. Beaumont declined to disclose the cost of the open house.

"It was a business decision. We have enjoyed having the open house for the past 10 years," Beaumont said. "We want to get the best bang for our buck. So the decision was made to give the open house a rest for a year."

Beaumont said the decision is not permanent and will be evaluated on a year-by-year basis. He said the college is exploring other ways to get students involved including smaller, more focused, science-based educational opportunities.

ACES professor Robert Hauser said he regrets the 2004 open house was cancelled, but he said it was a decision that had to be made.

"We have to do what we have to do in the short run," Hauser said. "During these difficult times financially we have to give up some of the things we normally do."

Greg Niewold, junior in ACES, said he is disappointed with the college's decision to cancel its open house.

"It sucks," Niewold said. "There are a lot of things around campus that could have been cut."

Neal Merchen, professor and head of the animal sciences department, disagrees with Niewold.

"I'm sorry the open house has been cancelled. But the budget reductions of the last two years has made it hard for us to keep all our existing programs," Merchen said. "In the last two years the college has given up 25 faculty positions and several courses will not be offered next semester. We will have to cancel one to two courses in the department next semester because there is no one to teach them."