It appears that the recent budget cuts are hitting some members of the UMass Boston community harder than others.

While trying to get on an elevator in the Administration Building on the morning of January 3, this reporter was forced to yield to a deliveryman with a large, cumbersome crate. Turns out he was delivering a brand new desk to the Chancellor’s office on the third floor.

“I usually break these things down, but this one costs about 3 grand. Don’t want to take any chances,” he commented to his sidekick.

The desk, which actually cost $2,132, was part of a larger office furniture purchase from R.V. Leonard Co. in Weymouth. The total cost of the furniture, from the Contour Casegoods Collection (“Counter is more than a desk, it’s a solution”), was $9,777.02.

The cherry/black double pedestal desk will be sharing quarters with a new 48″ round table with sunburst face, natural cherry finish. The table goes for $1,117.05. Around the table are six Maharam Boheme chairs. At $582.45 apiece, that’s another $3,494.70.

There’s also an Alexis Square magazine table ($407), two guest chairs ($582.45 each), an executive chair ($376.42), and a “fully articulated keyboard with mouse tray” ($253). And something called a “Grommett for above desk” that costs $44.

The furniture was ordered on October 25, 2001, well before the current fiscal crises erupted. It’s being paid for out of the $1.5 million that the Chancellor has allocated for campus-wide improvements.

Associate Chancellor Donna Smerlas explained, “Chancellor Gora’s office is the primary place where she meets with perspective donors, administrators, student groups, and political officials. It hasn’t been updated in 17 years. The Chancellor invites any member of the university community to come up and visit her office.”