There is a bit more to this story. WSU faces a major deficit and enrollment crisis, with the state of Ohio very close to putting them on financial watch. Their austerity measures are either necessary or a crisis not going to waste as they retrench. In addition, several high administrators have been fired (may also be some legal actions) related to operations of their research institutes wing. I don’t know all the details but it might have something to do with shenanigans on H1B visas.
ahh, so this is the official smokescreen, meant to build sympathy and knock the real news off the front page
I have a suggestion for the author, tho. If he feels that badly that poor faculty are being hit harder than himself, he can always volunteer to pay their premiums for them