In a room decorated with student-made posters stating, “The CSU system sucks!” and “More money for junior faculty,” President Alexander Gonzalez met with faculty members and students to discuss the pay disparity between junior faculty and newly hired faculty on Thursday.

The issue of the pay disparity arose last month when junior faculty demanded for an immediate resolution ?” Gonzalez responded by issuing a memorandum that asked faculty members to submit an application for individual market salary adjustments, which the university established six years ago.

At the meeting, Gonzalez admitted that a salary raise for faculty and staff is needed. “It is a big problem,” he said. “Everybody’s salary needs to be raised. It’s not just about recruitment. It’s also about retention.”

But Gonzalez could not provide any new method to immediately resolve the problem.

Gonzalez said he has had discussions with the chancellor’s office about where the university stands and what can be done about the disparity but that the only thing faculty members can do now is file for individual equity adjustments.

But faculty members expressed the problem with the application is that they would be judged on an individual basis in terms of their merits.

“We’ve already known about this option. We don’t want raises based on merit. We don’t want to compete with each other,” Michelle Matisons, assistant professor of Women’s Studies, told the State Hornet earlier this month.

Gonzalez said he thinks the two-page application, which requires faculty members to list their experience for equity adjustments, isn’t a burden to fill out.

Despite the fact that data of faculty members’ experiences are stored in the library, Gonzalez said faculty members are still required to list their qualifications and that there needs to be set criteria on the application.

“Why?” yelled Matisons. “We can just sign it, and you can look up the data,” she said. Her suggestion was supported by applause from individuals in room, which was filled to capacity.

“It’s an outrage,” said Lisa Hammersley, assistant professor of the Geology Department. Hammersley, who was hired three years ago, said her husband, who has no experience, will begin teaching at Sac State with a salary worth more than $50,000 ?” a higher salary than she has now.

Among the students who attended the meeting was Associated Students Inc. Executive Vice President Robbie Abelon, who said he came to the meeting to support faculty because faculty supports students all the time.

“There is no stronger ally than that between the students and faculty,” Abelon said.

Abelon said he had come to the meeting not only as a student leader on campus, but as a student who is considering becoming a professor. “What goes on here affects me,” he said.

During his freshman year, Abelon said he told a professor he was interested in teaching someday at a university. His professor replied telling him not to because of the issues faculty face ?” including heavy workloads and unfair pay ?” and Abelon said he’s not sure about becoming a professor now.

Abelon said he supports junior faculty and hopes that the issue will be resolved. “When somebody asks: ‘Robbie, do you want to be a professor?’ I want to be able to say yes,” he said.

Faculty members said they would continue meeting until the issue was resolved.

California Faculty Association Vice President Lillian Taiz said that the organization has been working on a solution for the pay disparity.Taiz said the average salary at Sac State is fourth from the bottom in the California State University system and that it is understood that it needs to be raised.

“We understand bills won’t wait,” she said. “We need to look at leadership to find creative ways to meet standards.”

Gonzalez agreed to meet with junior faculty again in order to further discuss the issue.

Nika Megino can be reached at [email protected]