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CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
PAGE 11 VOL. 34, NO. 01
Looming strike center stage at faculty-staff convocation
photo by: Casey Flores Professor Gregory Harrison, of Cal U’s art and design department, was asked to show a sign made in event of a faculty strike during Tuesday’s Faculty-Staff Convocation in the Convocation Center. by
Tyler Kimmel
contributing editor
The California University of Pennsylvania Faculty-Staff Convocation on Tuesday was filled with both good and bad news for the students, faculty and staff at Cal U. The bad news, unfortunately, outweighed the good. Cal U professor and Cal-chapter APSCUF (The Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties) President Michael Slavin presented a rather bleak outlook on the ongoing contract negotiations between the faculty union and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. “We don’t want to strike, but we will,” Slavin said, while faculty member Gregory Harrison held up a sign with the slogan on it (pictured above). Slavin said the potential strike is a result of “a nationwide attack on public education.” Universities and schools are getting less money across the country, which is hurting their professors and students.
Professors have to pay the highest percent of health care of any other Pennsylvania state employee, he said. Less money for universities means there’s less money to pay staff. Other state schools had 50 percent of their budget to pay staff, while Cal U had less than 33 percent of the budget for faculty. Less money also hurts students. Student’s tuition has risen five percent, fees have tripled and class sizes have grown over the last few years. Less money for scholarships and loans and an increase in college costs has made attending college harder for many students, Slavin said. Professors are fighting back. “APSCUF is saying enough is enough,” Slavin said. Slavin also went over a strike plan for over the next few weeks if a strike does take place. Today, Feb. 1, is the next scheduled negotiation session. If a deal is not reached, a strike will most likely take place. On Tuesday, Feb. 5, there will be a faculty only meeting about the contract negotiations, then on Feb. 12, Slavin plans an open meeting
for any students or staff who have questions about the strike in Steele Hall. That is if there is a strike. However, Slavin doesn’t sound optimistic about a new deal being reached. “The way the game has been played, I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Slavin said. Even if there is a strike, classes are supposed to go on as scheduled. Also during the faculty/staff convocation, Acting Provost Bruce Barnhart announced that undergraduate enrollment is down 10 percent from last spring and graduate enrollment is down five percent as of the first day of classes. Cal U President Geraldine Jones did have some good news for students and faculty-staff. President Jones announced that Cal U’s budget deficit is down from $4.2 million in August to $2.9 million currently. She emphasized that Cal U is currently, and will continue to, spend money wisely and in the right areas. “We will not spend more than we have earned in revenue,”
Jones said. President Jones also reiterated the importannce of Cal U’s professors and staff members. She said that no faculty lay offs or cuts have been discussed or will be discussed in order to save money. “You are more than salary figures on a spreadsheet,” Jones said. A scholarship was also dedicated to Jones during the convocation. The Geraldine M. Jones Scholarship will be awarded to a female student of color. Jones had no idea this was coming and was surprised and honored. Cal U professor and co-adviser for Cal U’s annual Black History Month celebration, Harrison Pinckney, made the announcement. The scholarship will be awarded with a priority to a student in the commercial music technology program because Jones earned her undergraduate degree in music education. She earned that degree right here at Cal U in 1972. Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA. The winner will receive
$500 for three years. There was some good news for students. There will now be no class on Monday, April 1, the day after Easter in spring 2013. Starting in fall 2013, Thanksgiving break will be a week long. Reading Day and Mission Day has been eliminated in order to accommodate the new schedule. There will also be a new food truck near Azorsky where students can get food. The truck is expected to start mid-spring 2013. Although there was some good news for students and staff, it is the bad that will have the biggest impact. The looming strike is a real possibility and will change the spring semester for everyone, beginning as early as this coming week. “We don’t want to go on strike, but unfortunately, we will,” Slavin said. For the latest news on the possible strike, what it means for our institutions and what it means for you, check out the Facebook page or www. caltimes.org.
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