CSULA-CFA CHAPTER E-NEWS

ISSUE #1 February 20, 2004

 

1. 1. Who You Know Can Help Save the CSU

2. 2. CSULA President Encourages Campus: Join Coalition to Save the CSU Budget.

3. 3. Introducing COSTS

4. 4. Upcoming Events

Ø      Students Demonstrate Against Governors' Budget Cuts February 25^th

Ø      Phone Banking For Prop 56

Ø      Budget Teach In Set For March 2nd

 

1. WHO YOU KNOW CAN HELP SAVE THE CSU

 

Up and down the state CFA chapters and their campus communities are working to build support to protect the California State University's budget through a Statewide Coalition to Save the CSU (CSCSU). We need YOUR help to bring people from outside of the campus into our coalition.

 

Being a Coalition member is not time consuming. Coalition members will be asked to allow us to put their names on our literature as supporters and may be asked to make a call or write a letter to a legislator or to the governor.

 

Take a minute to look at the attached PDF file and write down the names of people that you could get to sign a card saying they will join the coalition. If you contact CFA-LA, we will get you some cards to have them fill out in order to become a supporter of the California State University system. Call us at 3-5310 or email your list to cfa@cslanet.calstatela.edu and we will follow up with you.

 

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2. PRESIDENT ENCOURAGES CAMPUS UNIONS TO JOIN THE COALITION TO SAVE THE CSU BUDGET

 

On February 2^nd CFA Chapter President Lillian Taiz, Lecturer Representative Craig Flanery and HHS Representative Rita Ledesma met with CSULA President James Rosser. The cordial discussion focused primarily on CFA's Statewide Coalition to Save the CSU.

 

In an expression of his support for the work of the coalition President Rosser sent out the letter below to all union leaders on campus:

 

"As you may know, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed significant budget cuts to the California State University system. If enacted, the cuts will significantly reduce enrollment, decrease the number of students eligible for financial assistance, decrease the availability of financial aid grants, and increase student fees.

 

I am writing to inform you of an opportunity to get involved, on a voluntary basis, in an effort that is being led by the California Faculty Association (CFA). The CFA is forming an alliance to create a single voice and cooperative response in opposition to the budget cuts. As such, there may be opportunities to write letters to legislators and the Governor, establish a coalition of supporters, or participate in other opportunities to protect the CSU system.

 

If you would like to participate, please contact Professor Lillian Taiz, President, California Faculty Association at (323) 343-5310.

 

Sincerely,

 

James M. Rosser

President

 

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3. INTRODUCING COSTS: Coalition Of Students Teachers and Staff

 

In addition to the statewide coalition work, the CSULA campus community has formed a campus coalition to help save the CSU budget. Students, faculty and staff on our campus became energized as soon as we learned of the governor's intention to cancel the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), a critically important student success program.  Before long, however, we realized that the stakes were even higher; protecting the whole CSU budget had to be our primary goal so we have rolled up their sleeves and gotten to work to save the CSU.

 

On Jan. 21, more than 50 campus leaders gathered for an "organizing summit." They represented not only the CFA-LA Executive Board, but also student organizations, staff and other academic professionals. Together the group formed a campus alliance--the Coalition of Students, Teachers and Staff (COSTS).

 

In addition to educating and engaging the campus, we will be participating in statewide coalition activities including outreach to, among others, alumni, parents, civic associations, local government, and business groups; we will be asking the campus and our allies in the community participate in some letter writing, phoning and faxing campaigns to legislators and the governor.

 

The CSU needs all of us to stand together in this fight.  Please join us at our next meeting Wednesday, March 3, 3-5 pm in the Los Angeles Room. 

 

 

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4. UPCOMING EVENTS:

 

STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE AGAINST GOVERNOR'S BUDGET CUTS

FEBRUARY 25^TH 12-2 IN THE FREE SPEECH AREA

 

After attending a rally at CSU Northridge, student members of COSTS decided that CSULA should have its own rally to mobilize campus and community support against the proposed budget cuts to the CSU and to encourage voters to participate in the March 2, California Primary election

 

Providing music for the event will be "The Misfortunes", DJ Y-Not and an open mike will be hosted by Cal State L.A.'s own Olmecah. In addition to music and speeches people attending the rally will have an opportunity to make a cell phone call or write a letter to state legislators to ask them to save the CSU budget.

 

Please consider attending the rally yourself and bringing your classes.

 

PHONE BANKING FOR PROP 56

 

On Wednesday February 25^th CFA members will be meeting at SEIU 660, 550 Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, CA to do phone banking in support of Proposition 56.  We will work the phones from 5:30-8:30 pm. Dinner will be provided. If you are interested in joining us email Rita Ledesma rledesm@exchange.calstatela.edu by Monday February 23^rd.

 

BUDGET TEACH IN SET FOR MARCH 2nd

 

As part of its work educating the campus on the budget battle to save the CSU, COSTS is sponsoring a Teach In that will explain the impact of the cuts on the California State University. In addition to a power point presentation on the budget cuts, faculty and students will have an opportunity to ask questions and learn what each of us can to Save the CSU.

 

The event is set for March 2nd in Los Angeles Room B from 3-5 pm. We encourage you to bring your classes to this very important discussion.