Richard Scalettar: Faculty walkout would spotlight harm state's done
Why are faculty considering a walkout? This year’s 40 percent reduction in state support for the University of California and California State University systems caps years of cuts. In 2001, California spent $22,300 per student in today’s dollars; today, we spend half as much. Many faculty see a walkout as the only way to be heard, to focus attention on the harm the state – not the faculty – is doing to students. Washington Monthly recently rated three UC campuses in the top five nationally in service to the nation. California’s educated work force, our high-tech industry, our advanced agriculture and medicine all spring from research and teaching at UC and CSU. As top students and faculty look elsewhere, will our cutting-edge industries remain? While the budget crisis has accelerated the process, we are also victims of a fundamental shift in vision by UC leaders.
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by Richard Scalettar, The Sacramento Bee.