CSUN University News Clippings

Fullerton campus quiet during furlough days

(October 21, 2009)

By JESSICA TERRELL
Published: 10/20/09

Activity at Cal State Fullerton slowed to a crawl on Tuesday, as the first day of a three-day faculty furlough caused the cancelation of the majority of scheduled classes.

A number of dining facilities shut down and there was an abundance of open parking spaces in the typically congested parking structure. Even the campus Starbucks was closed.

The cash-strapped university is saving $9.4 million by implementing 18 faculty furlough days during the 2009-10 school year. This week is the only coordinated campus-wide faculty furlough – the rest of the days will be chosen by individual instructors.

“It kind of sucks because you are paying for more than you are getting,” freshman Josh Gonzalez, 18, said.

Tuition at the university has increased by 30 percent over the last year.

Students meandered across campus and gathered in small study groups in the library, but the university was noticeably quiet. Roughly 1500 classes are normally held on Tuesdays. The only classes held during furlough are those taught by teaching assistants.

“If there were 200 (classes) in session I would be surprised,” James Dietz, acting associate vice president for academic affairs, said.

Funding from the state is based on student enrollment numbers, not attendance, so the 10 percent reduction in faculty hours this semester won’t impact funding, Dietz said.

“It’s a bad thing that they don’t have enough money to pay the teachers, but I kind of like not having class,” said Maria Williams, 19. “It’s like having a week-long vacation.”

A vacation is exactly what administrators don’t want students to view the furlough as.

“The furloughs are for faculty,” Dietz said. “They are not designed to reduce the workload of students.”

The library extended its hours during the furlough days to provide an alternative learning space to the shuttered classrooms.

Students are coordinating performances and unorthodox workshops at a three-day “Furlough Fest,” which begins Tuesday at 2 p.m. Among the events listed: “DIY Gynecology,” “Fantastic Poetry Party,” and “How to Run a Record Label.”

A Facebook page for the event describes the festival as a form of resistance to education budget cuts and “corporatized education.”

Aloha Java, Starbucks’ rival campus coffee shop, was open today, but because of slow business planned to not reopen during the rest of the week.

Aloha Java worker Dawn Sedlack said she feels bad about closing for the few staff and students on campus during the rest of the week, but business is just too slow to stay open.

Publication: Orange County Register