As Sonoma State University struggles with low enrollment, program and budget cuts, and administrative mismanagement, we were fortunate to host a legislative hearing on campus, to discuss the campus’ challenges with members of our legislature. Held on the SSU campus on February 21, our campus community was joined by U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, State Senator Christopher Cabaldon (co-chair), State Senator Mike McGuire, Assemblymember Damon Connolly (co-chair), Assemblymember Chris Rogers, and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. This was a powerful opportunity for folks on our campus to voice our concerns and ask for assistance, and it was clear that the legislators present were on the side of faculty, and of restoring academic programs and athletics that are a vital part of what Sonoma State is as an institution.
I was asked to speak on behalf of our teacher’s union, the California Faculty Association (CFA), which I was glad to do. You can see my speech on YouTube (starting at 2:03:10). A captioned video of the first part of my speech can also be found on Instagram (posted by the CFA); I’ve included the entire text of my speech below. Every word of it is true, and spoken from my heart.
“My name is Wendy St. John, and I represent the California Faculty Association. I want to express my gratitude to all of you for being here with us today, and listening to what we have to say. For caring about what happens to us.
“I have taught here for the past 10 years in Biology and in Geography, Environment and Planning. I am also an alumna of this university. I arrived here as the single parent to a special needs child, and the support I’ve received as part of this community has been literally life-changing. I completed my bachelors degree in a department that gave me the opportunity to do research as an undergrad, and develop relationships with faculty mentors – relationships that are still hugely important to me to this day.
“Because of the excellent experience I had here as an undergrad, I decided to do my master’s degree here, in our Biology department, as well. This led me to pursue a career in education, and to the position at Sonoma State that I have today.
“I moved to Sonoma County specifically to attend Sonoma State, and will never regret that decision. When I am asked why people should choose Sonoma State, I tell them that because we are small, it’s possible for students to really get to know their professors one-on-one, to have educational experiences that lead directly to fulfilling careers, and to develop lasting relationships, in ways that often aren’t possible at larger institutions.
“Now, after dedicating a decade of my life to teaching at this university, my own career is threatened by the actions proposed by our administration.
“As you know, many tenure track faculty have received layoff notices. Let’s not forget, however, that more than half of the faculty on our campus are lecturers, like myself, contingent faculty whose primary focus is on teaching, rather than a combination of teaching and research. Publicly our administration has said that the layoff affects 10% of the faculty, but in addition to the 46 tenure-track faculty being laid off, at least 55 lecturers will not have their recurring contracts renewed, even some who teach in departments that aren’t facing direct cuts, as well as 27 athletics coaches. That’s more than 25% of the faculty.
“I have already begun to see the effect of the proposed cuts on students who have told me that they intend to transfer out of Sonoma State . . . because their major is going away, or because the athletic program that brought them here has been ripped out from under them. Or, because, even though they aren’t impacted directly, they no longer trust this university with their education.
“Please understand that faculty are not the problem. Even the departments that are being dismantled have been making money up to this point, according to the consultants the administration hired to advise on possible cuts. Staff are not the problem. The staff who work closely with students have been asked, increasingly, to do more work without additional compensation, and yet they continue to make certain our students have what they need to be successful. Of course, students are absolutely not the problem. And yet, all of us are the ones who will pay the price for the administrative mismanagement that has gotten us where we are now. Mismanagement and public controversies involving our presidents, coupled with a series of events that was out of anyone’s control – multiple years of severe wildfires, and, of course, a pandemic.
“We need to recognize that this is not happening in a vacuum . . . right now, Higher Ed is under attack at the federal level, and this is not the time for Califonia to lay down. It’s time to circle the wagons and fight for the quality of education we deliver. And please know that Sonoma State is not going to be a one-time event. If the CSU is allowed to undermine this campus, other campuses will follow. Right now, even campuses that are doing fine, with excellent enrollment, are being given austerity messaging, and told they need to tighten their belts.
“Why? From 2018-2023, CSU spending on instruction decreased by 11.5%, while spending on campus police, management personnel, cash investments, and planned capital spending all increased. We are now seeing the impact of these spending priorities.
“Reversing the cuts at Sonoma State requires $24 million per year while the campus recovers. That represents just .03% of the CSU’s current investments.
“I don’t think just throwing more money at the system is the solution. Yes, we need funding, but the current leadership of the CSU has demonstrated that it can’t be trusted to guide us in alignment with our primary mission, and accountability must be put into place. I suggest a mandate that further funding to the CSU be spent directly and solely on instruction and the costs of the personnel necessary to carry out that mission: teaching and learning.
“Truth is that there is money available, and we can make the choice to spend it on what really matters – the future of the people of California. Fighting for this campus is a great place to start. I appreciate all of you for gathering with us today, and hope that you will join us in our fight for the future of Sonoma State. Thank you.”
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