Classes are crowded, while at the same time students clamor to get the classes they need for graduation. In the Communication Studies department, 21 new part-time faculty need to be hired. Trying to find an adviser who has time to attend to the complexities of a common Sacramento State student who is juggling work and University life, is akin to waiting for help at the DMV. These are some of the issues that members of the California Faculty Association, the union representing faculty, are bringing forth in their clamorous dialog with Charles Reed, the California State University chancellor.

Students need to support their faculty in this fight for better education.

Our professors, half of whom are part-time, need to be paid at an equal wage to other comparable universities, need to be hired full-time so they can greater serve their students, and need to be respected by the administration of the CSU system.

Linda Current, a part-time lecturer at Sac State for 22 years said the current situation has detracted from the learning atmosphere on campus. Students are unable to meet with an advisor, due to the fact that more than half of the faculty cannot take an adviser?s position. Because lecturers are subject to the penalty of firing each year if they raise controversial topics, students are not exposed to the true variety of thought and are taught by example not to question the status quo.

We should also be aware that most of our professors work several jobs, driving to and from schools losing sanity simply to make enough money. Current sees a direct correlation between how the faculty are being treated and the eventual outcome of California.

“We have a corporate model of thinking imposed on a peoples? university. Top-down decision making instead of a community of scholars decreases the quality of education to increase efficiency. We are preparing our nurses, police officers,” Current said. “If the quality goes down, who will run the state?”

Regina Unimuke, a Sac State student agrees. Grasping a sign stating “Fire Chancellor Reed” at the Feb. 20 CFA rally against Reed, she said, “I honestly believe faculty are underpaid and overworked. I feel that for me to get a better education, it?s a slippery slope argument. If they are unhappy, students will be hurt.”

In order for students rise to excellence, we must be hand-tailored. We need respected instructors who have time and worthy compensation to help us become our best. Education should not be judged by net output, but by the depth and quality of knowledge.In order for this to happen, Reed must allocate funds to the right place, classrooms, not administration. Since 1992, $50 million of faculty salary funds (monies supposed to go directly to faculty) were spent in other areas.

We need to stand with our professors.

Is Samantha Hinrichs an arbitor of truth or a union lackey? Tell her what you think at [email protected].