Kutztown University students respond to strike vote.
What do Kutztown University students think about the faculty contract negotiations between PASSHE and ASPCUF?
Kady Wuagon, a senior middle education major, shared her concerns about the potential faculty strike. APSCUF held a strike authorization vote Sept. 7 to 9, which passed, authorizing the state APSCUF President Dr. Ken Mash to call a vote of the 14 chapter presidents, there is one chapter president at each of the Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education universities.
“When I was in high school the teachers went on strike twice my junior year. I’m concerned personally about what it would to do my senior year and if it would extend the year or give me less time on winter break,” Wuagon said.
Wuagon doesn’t know how the strike will differ from when she was in high school. The strike in high school had affected her because she did not have a spring break and she stayed in school two weeks longer in June because of the strike and she’s worried about her college graduation.
Thomas Marshall, a senior criminal justice major, is expected to graduate this upcoming spring 2017.
“I believe the strike could affect me negatively because I’m worried about my grades and my ability to graduate on time,” Marshall said. “As well as my overall learning experience if I have graduate students teaching me instead of my professors who have doctorates in their fields.”
He says he hopes that there is a resolution between ASPCUF and PASSHE before a strike has to take place.
Junior environmental science major, Noah Frankel, said, “Professors should put aside their personal issues with PASSHE so they can focus on their students’ coursework and well-being. If my professors go on strike, will I be reimbursed by the university for the thousands of dollars I pay for my classes?”
Zac Goren, a junior leisure and sports marketing major, said, “I feel like I’m going to miss out on my semester if professors do strike. I hope we get reimbursed for classes that we may miss.”
He expressed his concerns about who would continue to take over his classes if his professors take action.
Bridget Tobin, a junior business management major, said she did not know all the details regarding the current issue that has been taking place. Tobin said, “I don’t see how APSCUF and PASSHE can’t compromise. We students will be the ones that will be affected most in the end.”
Professors are prohibited from speaking about the strike to students during his or her class times and official office hours.
KU has been reassuring students via email that classes and campus events will still take place unless told otherwise by the university. According to an email sent by Daniel Spiegel, a professor at KU and the PR Chair and Spokesperson for APSCUF,
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Monday Sept. 19, members of the faculty union’s local will have an information table set up to address student’s concerns.