Letters to the Editor

Reed responds to CFA

Recent information distributed by the California Faculty Association and printed in the press warrants clarification. The California State University is offering an average five percent salary increase for faculty this year -- the same increase budgeted by the state for our faculty and accepted by every other union except one. By offering six percent next year, the CSU is addressing the salary lag between our faculty and those at comparable institutions. I have committed in writing to close that gap over the next three years.

The other main issue is merit pay. Compensation should be based at least in part on performance. All comparable institutions in the U.S. have a merit pay system. Our completely new proposal incorporates even more faculty participation in awarding merit pay. We have a responsibility to the people of California to be accountable for the job we are doing, and merit pay is critical to that.

The action taken Sunday (Oct. 11) by a small group of activists within the CFA -- whose total representation includes only 30 percent of the CSU faculty -- is counterproductive. In fact, their current contract prohibits any such concerted job action. I am confident that faculty would not abandon their responsibility to students.

Finally the CSU faculty are dedicated expert teachers and scholars, and it is unfortunate that a small minority feels the need to distribute misleading information rather than concentrating their efforts at the bargaining table. The CSU is working to reach a fair agreement and focus completely on educating students. The CFA should do the same.

--Charles B. Reed
Chancellor

Notes about Nooners

--Michelle (Mickie) Dorrell

Much is at stake in CFA talks

First, our position at the ASI meeting was not that teachers should never be rewarded for non-teaching performance, but that teaching performance should be the PRIMARY consideration for awards. (Merit pay was the issue not base pay). Non-teaching activities sometimes improve and enrich teaching abilities, as would be true for those who were what both Otis Scott and President Gerth referred to at last week's Livingston Lecture as "public academics." The point needs to be judged case by case. Students are, however, rightly concerned about any incentive system that induces teachers to spend less time in the classroom.

Second, McClain is confused about a "current agreement" calling for 40% of a 7-8% pay raise to be devoted to merit awards. (a) There isn't any "current agreement." We're trying to reach one but are at impasse. (b) The state budget permits a 7-8% pay raise, but Chancellor Reed is offering only 5%. He wants to take 40% of THIS for merit pay. The CFA calls, alternately, for a 6% raise. (Our pay is now 11% behind salaries at comparable institutions. This penalizes us for teaching here and at the same time it impairs CSU's ability to attract good new professors from around the country). The union and most faculty want little or no money going to a poorly designed, unproven and divisive "merit" system which reduces the amount available for general salary increases.

Third, my point was not that the CSU wants to run higher education a business, but that it wants to "corporatize" our campuses. It wants, that is, to deprofessionalize faculty, remove tenure and make educators obedient hirelings. It wants to seduce local administrators into imagining that they're CEOs. It intends to reduce education to training. And it wants to treat students, finally, as value-added products to be marketed to whatever corporate client come down the pike. It's a prospect about which we all need to be concerned. Thanks for your attention to these matters.

--Jeff Lustig, President CSUS-CFA,
Professor of Government, CSUS

Disgusted by lack of reason

I am disgusted by this student's complete lack of reason, as well as his total disregard for human rights. Not only is he using his backwards logic to promote and commit hate crimes, he is using the faith of millions of homosexuals and homosexual supporters to do it (I can only assume he's gathering his "reasoning" from a warped Christian approach).

While not delving too deeply into the religious aspect of this- it would take too long- I will only say this: Christ taught love, and if this student wishes to model himself after Christ, he certainly is going about it the wrong way. There is no room for hate in the heart of a true Christian, and if anyone is going to hell, it's certainly not homosexuals or homosexual supporters- it's the hate-mongering, ignorant few who make other Christians look bad.

The only way to stop hate-crimes such as these is for homosexuals and homosexual supporters- both Christian and non-Christain-to stop tolerating them. Otherwise, they will continue, and we as a student body, as a nation, as the whole human race, will continue to receive the blunt end of the hate of a few. I certainly don't want something like what happened at the University of Wyoming to happen here.

--Bethany J.Dean

Vote yes on Prop 1A

In September, the legislature overwhelmingly supported passage of Senate Bill 50, which put Proposition 1A on the ballot. Governor Wilson signed the measure and hundreds of organizations support it, including the California State Student Association and the CSU Board of Trustees.

Proposition 1A will provide crucial funding through a $9..2 billion dollar school bond. This bond will finance the building of classrooms at all levels of our educational system statewide.

CSUS will benefit from Prop 1A in that, if it passes, we will construct two new classroom buildings and expand our library. We will also receive more money for technology. Quality educational facilities are vital for a productive and safe learning environment. We must improve the condition of our public educational facilities in California. The onset of Tidal Wave II will bring 50,000 new students into the CSU over the next few years. We must be ready to address this enrollment with expanded classroom space. Every student on our campus should vote to support Proposition 1A on the November ballot.

This is not a partisan issue, as demonstrated by the bipartisan support of the bill in the legislature. It is a unique opportunity to re-invest in the future of California and the education of college students. Help improve our university so that we may become a first class institution of learning. Vote "Yes" on Proposition 1A for the students of California and those that will follow in our footsteps.

--Gary Davis
ASI President

Proud of crew's success

The men's team has operated as a club sport for its entire existence and continues to produce competitive boats year after year.

The women's team competed as a club sport from 1983 to 1994, relying solely on the financial assistance of its members and Associated Students Inc. The varsity eight beat UC Davis for the first time in 1991 and made its first appearance in the grand final of the Pacific Coast Rowing Championship that same year. In 1994, the women's team began the process of becoming an intercollegiate team, sponsored by the athletics department.

The team enjoyed great success the following year, winning the California State Championship and the Pacific Coast Championship. Today the women's program is a combined effort of the athletics department and Associated Students Inc.

As a former member of the women's crew, I am extremely proud of the accomplishments made by our teams of the past and wish tremendous success to the teams of the future.

Sarah Cox
Member - Women's Varsity Crew
1990-1995