2008 Woodie Awards
Gonzalez and Reed are not to blame, so let it go
State Hornet Staff
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Opinion
This past week several Hornet editors got the chance to sit down and chat with both university President Alexander Gonzalez and California State University Chancellor Charles Reed.
Both men professionally and diplomatically answered the questions directed at them and did their best to express the urgency of the situation that Sacramento State is in. Besides addressing the potential budget cuts to the CSU system and how it would directly impact Sac State, Gonzalez opened up and discussed other significant issues on campus.
Gonzalez praised the new emergency notification system that is currently being developed, as well as the upcoming Associated Students Inc. elections. The emergency notification system will enable students to receive text messages and e-mails about possible dangers on campus.
Gonzalez could not stress the importance of the ASI elections enough as well. He believes students have to get involved so that they can get the most out of this campus. He talked about the 40-page document recently released by the Center of Collaborative Policy.
The Assessment Report of Governance, Culture, and Climate at California State University, Sacramento, attempts to explain what factors led to tensions on campus and stated that inadequate methods of communication between faculty and administration was a major contributor to the uneasiness at Sac State during the labor dispute last year.
Gonzalez came across as genuine and, at times, downright charming. He was open and did not defer any questions to his assistants from public affairs, except for one technical question about the emergency notification system.
Considering how some in the California Faculty Association portrayed him during the contract negotiations last year, it was hard to believe that this was the same person who received a vote of no confidence and the subject of numerous campus protests. Gonzalez acknowledged that there are still disagreements, but communication is much better than it has been in the past.
Reed graciously answered any question that the Hornet had regarding the CSU system as a whole. He discussed the financial hit that the CSU system would endure if California kept the proposed budget. He also offered ideas to students as to how to convince lawmakers to revise the budget. Reed suggested that students take the time to visit lawmakers in their home districts.
He stressed the importance of going there specifically because, "It lets them know that you vote." He also questioned the priorities of the state, "California is building first-class prisons and second-class universities."
Reed assured the Hornet that the CSU system would not layoff employees if there were budget cuts, however, vacant positions would not be filled due to the lack of funds. He also stressed the point that the contract that was reached with faculty last year would be honored, regardless of what happens with the budget in the upcoming months.
Reed did say that future contracts would need to be renegotiated if the CSU budget was slashed. Hopefully, future negotiations will not make the campus as uncomfortable and unwelcoming as last time.
There is a lot of time between now and the time the budget is finalized. We need to believe that the people representing us have our best interests at heart. Mistakes have been made in the past, no doubt, but both men and countless others in the CSU system are fighting for a better future for us. Let's put our preconceived notions about administrators behind us, and understand that their job is much harder than cutting ribbons and smiling at cameras.
The opinion staff can be reached at opinion@statehornet.com
Both men professionally and diplomatically answered the questions directed at them and did their best to express the urgency of the situation that Sacramento State is in. Besides addressing the potential budget cuts to the CSU system and how it would directly impact Sac State, Gonzalez opened up and discussed other significant issues on campus.
Gonzalez praised the new emergency notification system that is currently being developed, as well as the upcoming Associated Students Inc. elections. The emergency notification system will enable students to receive text messages and e-mails about possible dangers on campus.
Gonzalez could not stress the importance of the ASI elections enough as well. He believes students have to get involved so that they can get the most out of this campus. He talked about the 40-page document recently released by the Center of Collaborative Policy.
The Assessment Report of Governance, Culture, and Climate at California State University, Sacramento, attempts to explain what factors led to tensions on campus and stated that inadequate methods of communication between faculty and administration was a major contributor to the uneasiness at Sac State during the labor dispute last year.
Gonzalez came across as genuine and, at times, downright charming. He was open and did not defer any questions to his assistants from public affairs, except for one technical question about the emergency notification system.
Considering how some in the California Faculty Association portrayed him during the contract negotiations last year, it was hard to believe that this was the same person who received a vote of no confidence and the subject of numerous campus protests. Gonzalez acknowledged that there are still disagreements, but communication is much better than it has been in the past.
Reed graciously answered any question that the Hornet had regarding the CSU system as a whole. He discussed the financial hit that the CSU system would endure if California kept the proposed budget. He also offered ideas to students as to how to convince lawmakers to revise the budget. Reed suggested that students take the time to visit lawmakers in their home districts.
He stressed the importance of going there specifically because, "It lets them know that you vote." He also questioned the priorities of the state, "California is building first-class prisons and second-class universities."
Reed assured the Hornet that the CSU system would not layoff employees if there were budget cuts, however, vacant positions would not be filled due to the lack of funds. He also stressed the point that the contract that was reached with faculty last year would be honored, regardless of what happens with the budget in the upcoming months.
Reed did say that future contracts would need to be renegotiated if the CSU budget was slashed. Hopefully, future negotiations will not make the campus as uncomfortable and unwelcoming as last time.
There is a lot of time between now and the time the budget is finalized. We need to believe that the people representing us have our best interests at heart. Mistakes have been made in the past, no doubt, but both men and countless others in the CSU system are fighting for a better future for us. Let's put our preconceived notions about administrators behind us, and understand that their job is much harder than cutting ribbons and smiling at cameras.
The opinion staff can be reached at opinion@statehornet.com
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