SRU professors put students’ interests first

Were you aware that your professors have been working without a contract since the summer?

Well, they have.

The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF)'s contract with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) expired in July and a new contract hasn't been agreed upon, largely due to the financial difficulties the state is facing.

PASSHE's budget was cut for the 2011-12 academic year by 18 percent, far from Governor Tom Corbett's proposed 54 percent, but still a rather large blow.

Even now, Slippery Rock is feeling the effects of the budget cuts.

The Masters of Science in Sustainable Systems has already been cut for next year.

While there hasn't been any faculty being let go or laid off, there are a number of positions that weren't filled for the 2011-12 year after retirements.

With the 2012-13 budget still up in the air, APSCUF contract talks are progressing slowly.

APSCUF President Dr. Steve Hicks and labor attorney Stuart Davison were on hand at Slippery Rock University Nov. 22 to meet with APSCUF members.

Unfortunately, most of the conversation can't be commented on because the meeting was closed-door. However, several SRU APSCUF members commented on the talks.

And the comments prove just how lucky we are to have some of the professors we do.

Dr. Bradley Wilson said that the main concern isn't about pay. It's about the potential increase of students per classroom, temporary faculty and distance learning, all of which could lead to lower educational standards.

And, even better than that, Dr. David Culp noted that APSCUF has never gone on strike.

That's pretty impressive if you think about it.

Imagine working for five months without a contract for next year, with everything up in the air.

In most unions, a strike wouldn't even be a question. It would be a given.

However, the members of APSCUF seem to truly believe that a strike isn't the answer.

A strike at the college level would not only bring classes to a screeching halt, but would also destroy the reputation of the state university system.

Think about it.

Go back to your senior year of high school when you were sifting through the massive number of colleges you could attend.

Would you go to a college where the professors recently had a strike?

Of course you wouldn't. Because it's an unstable environment.

We can also look at it from the view of a current student, working hard to get his or her degree.

If our professors went on strike, it would put a black mark on your degree.

That degree you worked so hard for. It would mean just a little bit less.

As fed up as we get with our professors sometimes, it's important to remember all they do for us, and that they often put our best interests at the top of their priority lists.