2008 Woodie Awards
CFA talks cause worry over fee hikes
Mitchell Alan Parker
Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: News
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During the past 22 months, dozens of students have rallied behind the California Faculty Association in support of a fair wage contract for the roughly 23,000 professors, librarians, counselors and coaches in the 23-campus California State University system.
Recently, some California Faculty Association members were asked whether or not they would accept a favorable contract from the CSU while at the same time letting the CSU raise student fees.
"That's a tough one," said Liz Cara, the San Jose State University CFA president and an associate professor of occupational therapy. "We feel like we're kind of tied in with the students in a way and we've really been supportive of holding the line on fee increases. It seems to me that we would have to think really hard about that."
Some students are also taking this issue into careful consideration.
"I agree that the teachers should be paid more," said Melissa Alfaro, a senior majoring in accounting. "They should have our interests in mind also. As students we have a lot of fees to pay and it's been increasing a lot. I personally don't want to pay a higher fee to attend, but if I did and I knew it was going to benefit the teachers, I wouldn't feel as upset about paying more."
But in all actuality, the CFA really has no authority on student fee increases.
"We have no structural or legal mechanism to apply pressure on the administration vis a vis student fees," said Jonathan Karpf, chair of the CFA strike organizing committee and a lecturer of anthropology, adding that there is no linkage of student fees and faculty salaries. "Student fees do not go to pay faculty."
Karpf said that all the CFA can do is put the student fee issue in the forefront of its own issues in hopes of affecting public opinion and the legislature.
"I almost feel like fees are high, but they're not that high," said Ryan Smith, a senior majoring in political science. "Ideally it would be cool if they could settle both and have the fee thing taken care of and the teachers get fair pay. I would rather have the teachers get fair pay than nothing."
Recently, some California Faculty Association members were asked whether or not they would accept a favorable contract from the CSU while at the same time letting the CSU raise student fees.
"That's a tough one," said Liz Cara, the San Jose State University CFA president and an associate professor of occupational therapy. "We feel like we're kind of tied in with the students in a way and we've really been supportive of holding the line on fee increases. It seems to me that we would have to think really hard about that."
Some students are also taking this issue into careful consideration.
"I agree that the teachers should be paid more," said Melissa Alfaro, a senior majoring in accounting. "They should have our interests in mind also. As students we have a lot of fees to pay and it's been increasing a lot. I personally don't want to pay a higher fee to attend, but if I did and I knew it was going to benefit the teachers, I wouldn't feel as upset about paying more."
But in all actuality, the CFA really has no authority on student fee increases.
"We have no structural or legal mechanism to apply pressure on the administration vis a vis student fees," said Jonathan Karpf, chair of the CFA strike organizing committee and a lecturer of anthropology, adding that there is no linkage of student fees and faculty salaries. "Student fees do not go to pay faculty."
Karpf said that all the CFA can do is put the student fee issue in the forefront of its own issues in hopes of affecting public opinion and the legislature.
"I almost feel like fees are high, but they're not that high," said Ryan Smith, a senior majoring in political science. "Ideally it would be cool if they could settle both and have the fee thing taken care of and the teachers get fair pay. I would rather have the teachers get fair pay than nothing."
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