I have always taken pride in my education.
I am not the kind of student who slacks and races to achieve the bare minimum.
I study for my exams, read assigned texts and always do my homework.
Granted, I may not be the best at every subject, but I try.
My professors ask for my best work, and I expect the same amount of effort back from them.
So, when I first heard that faculty members among Pennsylvania’s 14 state universities were negotiating a strike, I became a little upset.
On Oct. 20, the union for faculty met with members of the State System of Higher Education to discuss the possibility of a strike. At the meeting, representatives of the faculty union voted for the start of a strike authorization to take place in late November 2012.
At that time, members of the faculty union will meet at each respective university to decide whether or not to strike.
In an article written by The Patriot-News, union President Steve Hicks said that in the event of a strike, fall classes and finals could be interrupted.
Quite frankly, I do not have time for a strike. I am scheduled to graduate on time, and I intend to.
Negotiations between union members and state representatives have been prolonged for the past two years.
Faculty members and coaches of the union have been working without a contract since June 2011.
The 6,000-plus members of the union are looking to improve health benefits for working and retired members, changing salaries for temporary faculty and changing retiree benefits.
I understand that my professors put time and effort into their learning, and their hard work does deserve to be recognized, however, this needs to end.
This strike has the capability to affect around 115,000 students who are attending the universities that these union members are a part of.
Members of the union began the strike authorization process when their request for a third party arbitrator was rejected. You want a third party voice?
Well here I am.
If my professors are questioning the quality of their time at Shippensburg University, should I be questioning mine?
I pay to attend this school.
I came here with the mindset that I would receive a quality education.
I deserve that, and so does every other student.
What I find most frustrating is that no one is saying how this is going to affect me and my fellow classmates.
What does this mean for the students?
Would we be reimbursed?
Would my classes suddenly not count? Would I have to attend school later into the spring? I am sorry, but the summer is my time. Faculty members continually say they want what is fair for everyone involved especially the students.
I am not sure I believe that right now.
In order to create a better understanding of what is going on, something needs to be released to students to explain the situation, and how it is being handled.
You want to be fair?
Stop keeping me in the dark.
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