As of Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties faculty and coaches have been working under an expired contract for 476 days. The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education must negotiate a fair contract for students and faculty with APSCUF by October 19th at 5:00 a.m or the faculty is ready to strike. A march of professors across Clarion University's campus on Oct. 17th signaled failed plans of negotiation over the weekend from the state system.
After plans of negotiating over the weekend did not take place, Clarion University faculty members held a rally for the APSCUF strike across campus. Starting at 11:30am at Carrier Hall, the group marched from Eagle Commons to Carlson Library, ending at the Marwick Boyd/Tippin area. Leading the march among several others, Raymond Feroz, chair of the Rehabilitative Sciences department, Joyce Overly, associate dean of the Arts & Sciences, and Jamie Philips of the Philosophy Department, had powerful words to say regarding the prolonged procrastination of the state system, the mistreatment of faculty by Frank Brogan, and what really is at stake with our education. "We're not here to destroy the education of the commonwealth just so another person can get a better paying job. That is ridiculous and unacceptable", Jamie Philips stated during the Carlson Library stop.
While getting involved with live democracy in our area, the professors who rallied made it clear that no one wants the strike to happen, but if no agreement is reached by the 19th, they are prepared to strike. While negotiating issues between the boards have happened before, this particular one has been prolonged far too much, and deans who have been around to see these contract disagreements before have had enough. "This is my 19th year at the university, so this is my fifth time going through this process, and I am tired. I am tired of having to prepare for a strike, I am tired of being talked down by Frank Brogan, of being ignored, of being treated like an entry on an expense account, instead of a partner in providing a quality education".
While a suspension on information regarding negotiations from the Pennsylvania State System for Higher Education was put in place over the weekend, students and faculty have no further knowledge besides when the strike will start, and what dictates coursework and contact with professors during a strike. Student are advised to attend the first two class meetings during the strike period to receive information on further class meetings.
