by Ian Kennedy
The imposition of furloughs on non-teaching days, on top of budget cuts and other draconian reductions in the operation of our university, demand a reasoned, effective, and broadly supported response from the faculty in consultation with the other interested groups in the campus community. Some faculty members have called for a walkout on the first day of classes of this quarter. In my opinion, there has not been sufficient time to organize the broadly supported movement necessary to back this up. We run the risk of garnering minimal support and creating a possible public relations disaster. Furthermore, many faculty members do not feel that this is the correct response to our present crisis; they are loath to walk out on the students on the first day of class.
I propose that we take more time to organize thoroughly and institute a so-called “teach-in” during which we will take time from our class to educate our students about the problems facing the University, the history behind this crisis, the potential directions the university may take, and their impact on students, families and the State. The Council of UC Faculty Associations has prepared a two-page hand out that we can use in this educational activity. It can be found on the Web at the following address
http://keepcaliforniaspromise.org/?p=230
Staff unions are planning industrial action. It would probably be most effective if we were to coordinate with them and call for our teach-in at the same time. To make this effective, we need to have serious input from the faculty, we need to coordinate with the unions and the students through ASUCD, and we need to ensure full coverage by the media. We should also try to coordinate similar actions on other campuses. This takes time and it takes effort. I cannot, and will not, do this by myself. I need help from faculty volunteers. I need help coordinating with the unions, with student organizations, and organizing media coverage. If no one steps forward to help, I will let the idea lapse, at least from the DFA perspective – when DFA should be leading this effort.
If you have any thoughts about this plan, or more importantly, if you want to volunteer your help, please let me know. The teach-in date is yet to be determined and that may require consultation with the unions.