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news
CFA protest to
be held at Board meeting
By Jeanne Hoffa and Greg Smith
On-line Forty-Niner
In what organizers
call the biggest demonstration in the California Faculty Association's
history, the CFA will bus hundreds of supporters Wednesday
to California State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed's
office steps.
The demonstration will take place during the CSU Board of
Trustees budget meeting. The mission, CFA officials said,
is to convince Reed to find the resources necessary to raise
pay and job security that the CFA said has demoralized teachers
and eroded the quality of education for students.
"[This is] the first statewide participation of faculty
and students in support of CFA's need for a fair contract,"
said Armando Vasquez-Ramos, chairman of the CSULB job action
committee. "What's important is the students' involvement,
given their role as stakeholders and concerned recipients
of a quality education at the CSU."
Between 500 and 800 students and faculty from the 23 CSU campuses
are expected to gather for the protest. Representatives are
expected from campuses as far north as Sonoma and as far south
as San Diego.
More than 15,000 people signed petitions in support of CFA
that will be handed over to Reed, said Martin Fiebert, president
of the Long Beach chapter of the CFA.
Even before the recent economic downturn, California's energy
crisis drained billions of dollars from the state. When Assemblyman
Tom Harmon of the 67th District met with CFA officials and
CSULB President Robert Maxson on campus Friday, he said the
prospects for the higher education budget is grim. A $14 billion
to $20 billion deficit is expected next year.
"I fear it will impact you people," Harmon said,
"and everyone up and down the line."
In spite of the poor economy, CFA officials said they believe
the CSU can work toward CFA goals. Some of the CFA's requests
include:
• A 6.5 percent raise for teachers. Clara Potes-Fellow,
spokeswoman for the chancellor's office, said she estimates
that would require an additional $47 million dollars, or 1.38
percent of the CSU operating budget of $3.4 billion dollars.
• Granting tenure more often. Budget restraints on individual
departments squeezed the percentage of tenured faculty down.
In 2001, 25 percent of faculty are tenured and 20 percent
are tenure-track. According to Vasquez-Ramos, in the 1970s
approximately 50 percent of instructors had full tenure.
•Lowering administrative costs. The CSU hired 20 percent
more administrators in 5 years. Potes-Fellow said that money
is needed because of increased enrollment costs.
• Leveling
out the teacher/student ratio. According to numbers from the
chancellor's office, while the CSU student population has
risen 10 percent since 1994 to 370,000, the number of professors
has risen 1 percent. Another 150,000 students are expected
in the coming decade.
The CFA said they fear if the state does not commit to the
college system, called "the people's university"
by CFA President Susan Meisenhelder, then a quality education
will become inaccessible to many Californians.
The CFA asked CSULB students to meet by the Brotman Hall fountain
at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, and board one of several buses that
will travel to 401 Golden Shore St. in Long Beach for the
9:30 a.m. rally. Students who ride the bus can expect to be
back to campus before noon.
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