I spent the better part of the day in Carson, CA. Faculty at CSU Dominguez Hills walked out in a one day strike. I was there to support their cause and their sacrifice; after all, those faculty will be docked one day’s pay for walking out on strike.

CSU Dominguez Hills faculty (and faculty at CSU East Bay in Hayward) were protesting the unwillingness of Chancellor Charles B. Reed to authorize pay raises for faculty that were negotiated as part of the last Collective Bargaining Agreement. Faculty and students from CSU campuses throughout Southern California descended on the campus, ringing it and–for all intents and purposes–shutting the campus down.

Lesson One: No faculty, no classes. No classes, no education

Too often universities forget that they are in the business of educating students. The “administration” of a campus or of a university system is conceived of as the mission of the university.  Administration of the university becomes the tail that wags the dog.  Administration of the university begins to dictate the educational mission of the university.  Education is bent to fit the needs of administration rather than administration supporting the educational mission. An action like this reminds everyone that in the absence of faculty and students there is nothing for a university to do, and there is nothing for university administrators to do.

The CSU Administration is the tail that wags the dog. How else does one explain that only 35% of the operating budget of the CSU goes directly to instruction?

Lesson Two: Students have our backs

The truth is that students “get it:” Faculty working conditions are student learning conditions. We are in the same boat. The failure that is CSU Administration (Long Beach) robs both faculty and students of the opportunity to provide (and students to receive) the best possible quality education. That is why so many students came out at Dominguez Hills in support of the faculty. I sincerely doubt they would be out on the streets with denizens of 401 Golden Shore if they went on strike. The energy and commitment of these students left me in awe and filled me with hope for the quality of our future community leaders.

Lesson Three: The Public “Gets It”

Frankly I was not sure what to expect from passing motorists. After all, the CSU Administration and many in the public think we are coddled, over-paid, smarty-pants academics.  How dare we, especially during an economic downturn, expect any pay increase. I expected a lot of  “one finger salutes” and unflattering slurs. I spent five hours at Central and Victoria in Carson and with only one exception passing cars and trucks were honking their horns in support of the strike and eagerly accepting fliers that explained our purpose. I was pleased that the public that drove through that intersection gets it. They understand that faculty work hard to educate the future leaders, workers, and wage earners of California. They understand that the sacrifices they make  as taxpayers are building a bigger, brighter future for California.  They seem to understand basic values like fairness and investing in the future of our state.

This strike and other CFA actions are not just about money. Personally I would not receive a dime of the Chancellor changed his mind and granted these raises.

Our actions are not even mostly about money.

The issues for faculty are much larger than that. The issue is Charlie Reed’s vision of the CSU versus the faculty and students’  vision of  the CSU. Our vision is a vibrant university providing a world class education that is accessible and affordable for California students. We are not convinced that the Chancellor shares that vision. This is why we fight.