THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO SINCE 1965
Vol. LIV, No. 1
COYOTECHRONICLE.NET
MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016
CFA prepares for strike By Jordan Mitchell Staff Writer
California State University professors take a step closer to calling a strike in the spring 2016 quarter as a continued attempt to raise faculty earnings by 5 percent. The California Faculty Association (CFA) gathered on the Cal State Los Angeles campus on Jan. 19 to address their ongoing efforts and negotiations with CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White. As of 2014, more than 50 percent of all CSU faculty members made less than $38,000 a year, according to the CFA. “CFA members here along with 26,000 other faculty in the CSU association are fighting for five, meaning a 5 percent general salary increase for all faculty,” said CFA communication specialist Niesha Gates. On top of the 5 percent general salary raise, the CFA is also asking for an additional 2.65 percent service salary increase. The service salary increase (SSI)
would provide an additional raise to eligible faculty members who have provided quality service in their position for a specific length of time. According to CFA President Jennifer Eagan, the current salary given to CSU faculty members has proven to be insufficient for the increasing cost of living. “We’ve shown that faculty salaries are uniquely stagnant compared to other educators and public employees and we have shown how this effects faculty families, our families. We have told our stories through the numbers and through the living experience of faculty members struggling to pay bills and send their own kids to college,” said Eagan. “It seems that everyone understands where we’re coming from, except for the leadership of the CSU, Chancellor White and the board of trustees,” added Eagan. Recently, Chancellor White approved Continued on Pg. 2
Higher school budget proposed By Kyle Richardson have to look for it yourself,” said Hernandez. Evan Peckels transferred to CSUSB in fall of 2014. He also agreed on more counseling, but said that professors should get a little bit of the money too. “I know lecturers and professors don’t make as much as they should, a little salary increase wouldn’t hurt, in the end, they’re the ones molding our minds,” said Peckles. Gallegos also said that faculty should get an increase in pay as well. “Some professors and lecturers must work at multiple campuses,” said Gallegos. “It really effects the quality of teaching, they (faculty) should feel valued.” According to The Sun, tuition at CSUs look to stay put at $5,742. In addition to the flat tuition, CSUs will be able to expand enrollment to 12,300 students in spring and fall 2016. Community college transfers to CSUs in Spring 2016 will increase as well. The budget estimates $71.6 billion Continued on Pg. 3
Student debt is outrageous, pg. 5
Student debt reaches trillions By Crystal Norman
Staff Writer
Gov. Jerry Brown proposed a state budget plan that favors a $148.3 million increase of funds allocated to the California State Universities (CSU). The proposed $122.6 billion California budget plan includes higher education, public schools, health care and public infrastructure, according to the Los Angeles Times. This will raise the state spending to $170.7 billion this year. Inquiries have arisen regarding where the money should be distributed, because there is a long list of needs in California. “It’s not a candy store where you can pick out whatever you want,” said Gov. Brown in an interview with ABC News. Where is that money going? “The schools should acquire more digital textbooks for the students, which would be a big help for students,” said CSUSB Communication and Spanish professor Dr. Liliana Gallegos. Student Alexandra Hernandez said the money should go towards more counseling to help students stay on track. “There isn’t a lot of guidance, you
Jordan Mitchell | Chronicle Photo
CFA prepare for strike in the spring if their demand for 5 percent is not met, which will result in class cancellations.
A cruelty free lifestyle, pg. 9
Staff Writer
College students in the US leave campus on graduation day with an average of $35,000 in student loan debt, adding up to $1.3 trillion nation wide in 2016, according to businessinsider.com. According to USnews.com, college graduates have the misconception that their student loans will take them 10 years to pay off, currently, the average bachelor degree takes 21 years to pay off. With the rise of tuition and a bachelor degree being a standard requirement, the U.S. student loan debts are assumed to increase as are the years needed to pay them off, according to CNBC.com. This leaves people questioning whether or not it will get better. Student and teacher Esmeralda Carrillo doesn’t think it will get better anytime soon. “1.3 trillion, how many zeros come after the 3? As stressful as it is to think of student debt amongst all of the other things we worry about as students I would like to think it’ll get better but chances are it won’t,” stated Carrillo. The fact is that there are several ways
to reduce your student loan debt, according to fastweb.com. The issue can get better if students were more aware of what’s available to them. The CSUSB website, like many college websites in the U.S., informs students and dedicated a whole tab to “budget and borrow carefully” to help college graduates avoid student loan debt. Outside sites like studentloandebt.com are specifically made to help students with the long term effects that debt may have on your future. Although CSUSB doesn’t have a debt relief program, Director of the Financial Aid Department Roseanna Ruiz said loan services offer students several repayment options to assist them in being able to meet their repayment obligations so as to avoid delinquency. “The likelihood is students don’t look for the loan relief programs because they may not be aware,” stated Ruiz. And Ruiz is exactly right, according to CNBC.com, 43 million people in the U.S. have student loan debt and some are Continued on Pg. 3
Long live David Bowie, pg. 10
Basketball redeems themselves, pg. 16