Clarion University Professors Stage Rally Monday on Campus

Scott Shindledecker

Scott Shindledecker

Published October 18, 2016 4:50 am
Image

CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — Even as contract talks continued Monday between the Pa. State System of Higher Education and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, Clarion University professors and some students rallied and marched on campus to bring attention to their plight.

A few dozen professors and a handful of students began their rally in front of Carrier Hall before moving to Eagle Commons, then Carlson Library before finishing up at the Gemmell-Tippin outside performance area.

Clarion APSCUF President Ray Feroz
Dr. Ray Feroz, Chairman of the Human Services, Rehabilitation, Health and Sport Sciences, (pictured above) led the rally, which included professors carrying signs that read “Chancellor’s Office Attacks Quality,” “You Can Put Students First If You Put Faculty Last,” and “The Issue Isn’t $; It’s Quality.”

It also featured chants that included, “Hey, Hey, Ho Ho, Frank Brogan’s Got to Go.”

Brogan is the SSHE Chancellor and the leader of the state negotiating team.

There is a media blackout on contract negotiations and how they are going, but Clarion University Associate Professor Bell O’Neil in the Department of Communication and the APSCUF Spokesperson said negotiations were ongoing and were anticipated to continue Tuesday.

O’Neill said it was encouraging to know that negotiations were continuing.

In response to whether a strike would occur, O’Neill said, “Hopefully not. Our challenge is to keep it so we can provide a quality education to the students.”

Feroz, the Clarion APSCUF President, said what many said Monday.

“I can only say to you, that as faculty, we will be ready to go on the picket lines on Wednesday morning,” Feroz said. “We don’t want to strike, but if we have to, we will.”

Joyce Overly, a Professor of Chemistry, has been at Clarion University 19 years.

“I’m tired of being treated like an entry on an expense account instead of being a partner in providing a quality education to the students in this Commonwealth,” Overly said. “The State System needs to treat us fairly and let us do our jobs.”

Jamie Phillips, a professor of Philosophy, said it seems clear to him what’s going on in the contract negotiations.

“The situation is pretty straightforward here. The Chancellor recognizes he has the best-paying job and other people want that job and he doesn’t have much time left in the system.

“So what is he gonna do — he needs to get a different job. He needs to do something to impress other people, and one of those things is he can try and break the back of the union, so he can go someone else and get a better job.”

“Many of us wouldn’t be the people we are today without our great public institutions,” Communications Professor Andy Lingwall said. “I find it ironic that after establishing the PASSHE four decades ago as a public good, the Board of Governors wants to turn its backs on you and your families and turn it into a business-driven, cost-driven system that must make money.”

APSCUF professors have worked 475 days without a contract and are within 24 hours of a strike.

The last contract expired in July 2015, and the sides have argued over issues ranging from health care costs and pay to the reliance on temporary faculty.

A strike date is set for 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

Recent Articles

Community Partner