Cal State Monterey Bay union faculty members wore red and rallied ahead of the university’s budget town hall on Tuesday in an effort to make the administration aware of their opposition to proposed budget cuts.
‘Red for Ed’ is a statewide movement organized by the California Faculty Association to push back on budget cuts across educational institutions. Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed an 8% cut to the California State University system.
In addition to that, CSUMB faculty have faced a campus-wide hiring freeze and suspension of travel, which university administrators issued in February, calling them a precaution due to the unpredictability of government funding.
“We’re already feeling the budget cuts,” said Renee Penalver, assistant professor of psychology and co-president of CFA’s Monterey Bay chapter. “For example, there was a traveling freeze. That eliminates my ability to travel with my students to conferences which directly impacts, or could impact, my tenure and promotion portfolio.”
Aimee Escalante, president of CFA Monterey Bay and lecturer in liberal studies, said she is most concerned about her students. At the time of the budget town hall, Escalante would usually be leading her Education in the Latine Community class. However, on Tuesday she found herself outside of the University Center, holding a box of donut holes and standing beside some of her students from the class.
“I teach people who are going into education,” Escalante said, “so if they are having difficulty getting their classes, meeting graduation times, then it impacts future educators in the Salinas Valley as well.”
The budget town hall meeting brought in nearly 250 people that filled the available tables and lined the walls of the room. Specks of red, generally indicating alignment with Red for Ed, could be located throughout the space as well as those wearing stickers containing the CFA logo.
CSUMB President Vanya Quiñones announced to the crowd that the university is not in a financial crisis and called for attendees to contact their elected officials to advocate for better funding of the CSU system. Alan Fisher, interim vice president for administration and finance, presented how the administration plans to navigate the new financial climate, saying they are awaiting the state’s approved budget expected in June.
By the time the meeting opened up to the audience, CFA members took to the microphone to question administration strategies for the future. In response to administrators prioritizing higher enrollment numbers, CFA members asked, “Are we admitting more students than we can serve well?” Quiñones replied that student retention is more important than growing the student population.
According to Escalante, CFA Monterey Bay is planning to gather on campus again in April with the goal of promoting ongoing local awareness of the needs of CSUMB faculty members.
CSUMB holds the broadcast license for KAZU.
