 |
|
|||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
Frustrated students rally for a resolution regardless of rain
The Advocate
With the possibility of a full-time faculty strike growing ever more real, MHCC students gathered in the Main Mall Wednesday to rally for a quick resolution.
The student rally, which started at 5 p.m., was made up of nine people as they marched outside the bookstore in the rain.
"I've been working by organizing (the student rally) on facebook and email," said Travis Apollonius, philosophy major, who was the main organizer for Wednesday's student rally.
Apollonius said that out of respect for teachers, he and students should rally in favor of a hastened conclusion to the extensive contract negotiations that have already taken more than a year.
Apollonius said the implications of the contracts could also affect him even further because of the career path he has chosen, "I intend to become a college teacher," he said.
"The sign says 'Be your dream', but then they're trying to shut down the students' dreams. It's frustrating," he said.
Apollonius also spoke of frustrations he and other students have had when trying to make contact or to get information from board members.
"I've personally noticed and, talking with other students who have noticed, have tried to reach out to the board and I, and others, have been ignored," he said.
Apollonius said he and students would send emails to board members and while some would reply accordingly, others would respond to questions with "cut and paste" messages that would be sent to all student questions.
In a message sent to board members Feb. 18, Apollonius said, "In the letter to students put out on Monday, we were told: 'First of all, rest assured that the College is doing everything it can to lessen or eliminate any potential impacts to you if your instructors decide to go out on strike. We are expanding our interim pool of qualified and available part-time instructors to seamlessly assume teaching duties created by striking faculty.' I for one will not stand for my educators being replaced with scabs. It saddens me to see the administration of my own college standing up to be on the wrong side of over 120 years of struggle for organized labor."
Two responses from board members were received, according to Apollonius, one from Beverly Russell and the other from Brian Freeman.
Russell said in her response, "As a student, you would have to pay an additional $15 per credit hour if we give the faculty what they are requesting."
Apollonius said in his blog Feb. 22, after receiving a response from Freeman,
"After listing off several talking points, Mr. Freeman concludes by completely ignoring my disapproval of using scabs to break the union's power by reiterating, "If your instructors decide to strike, you will still be able to complete your classes, and earn certificates or diplomas. It is our aim to be staffed and ready to serve our students without interruption."
"It's hard to believe that negotiating (between faculty and the administration) will be done in good faith if communication with students aren't in good faith," he said.
In response to this, the Associated Student Government president Larry Collins-Morgan said, "I know there's a lot of frustration (among students)."
Collins-Morgan said he hopes for a conclusion with negotiations where both sides can be satisfied. It's important to find the commonalities."
After the students had rallied through the Main Mall, they meshed with faculty members who had gathered outside the district board's regular meeting. Board member were unavailable for comment Thursday.
On Thursday, a mediation session between full-time faculty and administration negotiators was held and March 16 will be left open if the mediator believes another session would be fruitful after Thursday's meeting.
The Advocate reserves the right to not publish comments based on their appropriateness.
Comments