It is the first time in its 34-year history that APSCUF faculty members have gone on strike.

More than 105,000 students at Clarion, Indiana, Slippery Rock, Edinboro, Lock Haven, California, Bloomsburg, Cheyney, East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, and West Chester are affected.

Students were told to go their classes as scheduled, but when they did, they were given a small information sheet that gave brief instruction on the following questions:

1. How does the faculty strike affect students?
2. How do I know if my class will meet?
3. What activities are taking place on campus?
4. Where can I get the latest information on strike negotiations?
5. Who should I contact if I have a specific question?
6. In the unlikely event the campus is closed due to bad weather or other emergencies, how will I find out?

Hannah Swartz, a 19-year-old Clarion University sophomore majoring in Secondary Education, said she was in her first class of the day for six minutes.

“There was an administrator there, and she handed us these blue cards that if we have any questions, to look at these different links on a website,” Swartz said.

After 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, students could log in to D2L to see a comprehensive listing of classes that are and are not meeting.

Clarion University faculty members were on the picket line at different locations near campus, including near Tippin Gymnasium, Science and Technology Center, Gemmell Student Center parking lot, Central Services Building, Carrier Hall, Still Hall, and Starbucks.

Some students marched with or near faculty members.

Clarion University Associate Professor Bell O’Neill, who teaches in the Department of Communication and is also the APSCUF Spokesperson, explained that Clarion APSCUF faculty had been prepared for several weeks with a picketing plan.

“We really want the negotiations to continue, we would like the State System to come back to the table and get a contract worked out, so we have a fair contract,” O’Neill said.

“At 11:35 p.m., we made a last attempt to negotiate through back channels,” Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties President Dr. Kenneth M. Mash said. “We waited until 5 a.m. We are headed to the picket lines, but even on the picket lines, our phones will be on, should the State System decide it doesn’t want to abandon its students. They’ll know where to find me at 5:30 a.m. I’ll be outside the chancellor’s office at the Dixon Center on the picket line.”

Until the State System negotiates a contract APSCUF believes is fair to students and to faculty, faculty members will be on strike, starting 5:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 19. The strike will end when negotiators reach a contract.

The faculty contract expired June 30, 2015, and negotiations have been ongoing since late 2014.

APSCUF represents about 5,500 faculty and coaches at the State System universities: Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania.

O’Neill also said that coaches at the 14 universities were still in negotiations, but that athletic trainers are part of the faculty and are on strike.

According to unconfirmed reports, Clarion University has hired two outside trainers to staff practices and athletic contests.

Athletic activities will proceed as scheduled, according to the University.

According to the page at clarion.edu that gives strike information for students, campuses  at Clarion and Venango will remain open with regular hours of operation.

This includes: housing, dining, the Gemmell Student Center on the Clarion campus, libraries (Carlson and Suhr), IT services, The Center for Wellness in Becht Hall, mail services, registrar’s office, campus police, and university communication.

Please contact the respective department or office for specific operating hours. Any changes to the schedule will be communicated via email and social media.

In the event of a health emergency, students should contact or visit the Center for Wellness in Becht Hall or university police at 814-393-2111.