Letters to the Editor

An open letter to President Gerth

I am writing this open letter to you, in order to ask you for a public apology. I believe I am due this apology because of two acts on your part.

One, was shutting off questioning of the Chancellor by the people at a time when you saw me in the line to speak.

Second, you shielded me with your body away from the Chancellor, so I was unable to speak to him about putting students first.

Shame on you Mr. Gerth. Am I not an acceptable student leader? You felt no need to stop Gary Davis from questioning or speaking to the Chancellor.

Am I unacceptable because I fail to bow down to you, or is it because I have strongly supported the California Faculty Association?

Why sir, when I got close to the Chancellor did I see fear in your eyes and the look of "oh, s***, it's that South guy"?

President Gerth, I believe it is sad that you do not respect me and my role on this campus, but I am not surprised because you treat me with the same respect you treat the students on our campus.

Please show the student body and me that you have respect for all of us and publicly apologize to me. Thank you.

--Sean C. South
Post-Baccalaureate Director, ASI

A few more facts about Charlie Reed

First, Charlie Reed has already successfully lobbied Sacramento for a budget augmentation for faculty slurries, and in this year's budget, compensation is the largest area of increase. In fact, the chancellor is proposing an 11 percent increase in faculty salaries over the 1998/1999 and 1999/2000 years. Meanwhile, the plan to close the presidential salary gap was approved by the board of trustees and was supported by key legislators months before the chancellor arrived.

Second, the California Faculty Association, whose membership includes only 30 percent of the CSU, is legally prohibited from any concerted job action. Further, the chancellor was right in stating that it would be inappropriate to discuss bargaining issues in a public forum.

Third, the chancellor has a strong sense of CSU's mission. I have often heard him call the UC system the show horse and the CSU the workhorse of California higher education because the CSU is the economic engine for the state.

Finally, the representative process to select a new chancellor was overwhelmingly successful. As a member of the chancellor's search committee, I know that Charlie Reed was the first choice of every member of the committee and has a national reputation as being the finest system leader in the country. We found a talented and pragmatic man whose tireless efforts to improve teacher education and obtain resources to accomplish other educational goals have already earned him the respect of CSU constituencies at our campuses and in Sacramento. It is unfortunate that a handful of faculty would rather attempt to mislead the public than work together to educate students.

--William D. Campbell
Member, CSU Board of Trustees

Parking figures are inaccurate

To date, the perimeter road construction project has resulted in a net loss of 132 parking spaces. During construction of State University Drive East, 209 displaced spaces were later regained when the southern section of Jed Smith drive was converted to parking. When the temporary bike compound is moved and the new surface parking lot south of the union is complete, the campus will have gained 125 parking spaces.

Future construction of the Alumni Center will eliminate 150 spaces, resulting in a net loss to the campus of 25 parking spaces. These 25 spaces may be reclaimed by re-striping. Also there is no plan to segregate an additional 100 spaces and designate these for Alumni Center use only.

--Howard Harris
Assoc. VP, Facilities Management

Credit where credit is due

My point is not whether or not I agree with these statements. Maybe I do, maybe I don't. In a way, you are doing me a favor by attributing them to me, as they undoubtedly increase my popularity with my colleagues.

Unfortunately, I didn't say any of those things: my good friend, Professor Henry Chambers (History) said them. He is the fellow with the white hair to prove his senior status. I, too, have been around a long time, but my hair is merely an undignified dull brown.

So, in the interest of accuracy in journalism, please print this letter as to clearly indicate that all those things were said by Henry Chambers and not by me.

Might I also suggest the following amusing title: He doesn't have white hair yet.

--T. Kando
Professor, Sociology