Bloomsburg Students Support APSCUF
The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) declined the final contract offer by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) last night at around 11:30 p.m. That meant that at 5:00 a.m. this morning, the faculty of all 14 Pennsylvania State Universities were officially on strike.
Bloomsburg University faculty are posted at every entrance of the campus with picket signs in hand. But there are also plenty of students taking a stand against PASSHE with them.
Students feel very strongly that their education is the most important point in this strike, and that the faculty are fighting for their own contract, as well as fighting for students.
One staff member that wished to remain anonymous said that PASSHE is “trying to divide us and lower the quality [of the students’ education.]” This rings true with students who want their education to be as valuable as possible.
Students were also manning picket signs and joining in chants in front of Carver Hall this morning as the faculty were marching to the beat of a bass drum. Two BU sophomores, Thomas Weber and Dave Zienkiewicz, stated “we’ve been here since 5:30 a.m.” Weber said he was fighting for the quality education that the professors give to students, and Zienkiewicz added, “I aspire to be a post-secondary educator, so this is really important to me.”
There was a large drawing pad and markers for any students who wanted to join the picket line at Carver Hall. Junior Arden Schiller held up a sign that said #SettleForTheStudents. Many students like her want an agreement to be met between PASSHE and APSCUF so that they can continue their education.
Any student who wishes to get involved in the strike can go to any of the major entrances into Bloomsburg University and join the picket line. Also, APSCUF President Dr. Kenneth Mash encourages students to call their state legislators and urge PASSHE and Chancellor Frank Brogan back to the bargaining table.
For the latest updates on the BU strike, stay tuned to BUnow.com and our social media accounts. You can also voice your opinion on the strike on Twitter by using #BloomUstrike.
