Read our Statement – Join us on March 8

“A Day of Education in Defense of Public Education”
UIC Joint Faculty Furlough and Public Education Day
MARCH 8, 2010

We understand the very real financial crisis faced by the University of Illinois system is related to the larger budget situation in the State.  Even in these dire economic times, however, our elected officials and our institutional leaders have to set priorities.  We want to underscore that quality accessible higher education for the young people of Illinois, today and in the future, has to be one of those priorities.  Cuts in resources to education represent disinvestment in our students and their future. The University has taken some drastic and unprecedented steps in response to the budget crisis, including:

• layoffs and terminations for many campus workers,
• tuition increases,
• reductions in student services,
• mandatory unpaid furlough days off for teachers and staff,
• increases in minimum class sizes and more limited course offerings.

One way that we as faculty can make our voices heard is to make visible the price that is paid for cutting funding to education.  We therefore invite all faculty members to take at least one of their required furlough days together.  So, on Monday March 8, we invite our colleagues to join us in a coordinated furlough day and participate in activities that help inform our political leaders and the public about the importance of higher education.  On that day, we will help to organize public forums, workshops and lectures as well as private meetings with media and elected officials to make our case about the value of public universities.  Some of us will volunteer at public high schools and offer our services to future college students.  We invite students, parents and staff to participate in the public events, which will be held on this day as an alternative learning experience and a way to influence the policies that negatively impact education and our collective future. We understand and empathize with other Illinois families and institutions that have been negatively affected by the State’s budget crisis.  And we urge our elected officials to take whatever steps necessary to pay its bills, ensure the continuation of essential services and activities.  We insist that education has to be one of the State’s top priorities.

Employees who cannot take March 8th as a furlough day may still support this action by
signing this statement and/or by joining in the public education activities on that day.

NOTE: Those faculty  and staff wishing to add their names to the call should send an email with  full name, title and university affiliation to: barbara.ransby@GMAIL.COM.  Indicate “Add my name to furlough statement” in the subject line.