More than 200 current and former faculty members, students and community activists marched today from the Community College of San Francisco Downtown Campus at 88 4th St. to the temporary Civic Center Campus at 1170 Market St. to protest cuts that will result in downsizing staff and classes.
The rally comes as the CCSF faculty union AFT Local 2121 undergoes contract negotiations with the college's management team. According to 48 Hills, during those negotiations, the union was informed that the college will cut 356 faculty positions and 1,836 classes by 2020.
Speakers and supporters at today's rally demanded that the city invest in the community college — which has seen multiple budget cuts over the past few years as it has struggled to hold onto its accreditation — and pay their faculty members livable wages.
Kelly Guajardo, an activist with La Voz Latina and the Central City Coalition for Public Education, also argued that the 26 percent cut to programs had the potential to undermine the community's efforts to reinstate the Civic Center Campus.
Recently retired faculty member Gus Goldstein said she came out to the rally today for three key reasons. Firstly, she said that cutting enrollment further would be "completely outrageous."
Secondly, she's opposed to the college's attempt to provide full-time faculty members with a raise but not part-time faculty members. "We fought long and hard to link their salaries because they do the same work," she explained.
Finally, she argued that faculty members are paid less today than they were in 2007. "It's now 2015. And this is San Francisco," she said.
CCSF students Samora Bennett and Edian Blair Schofield said that they came out to support their professors, whose encouragement has been integral to their educational and personal growth.
"City College saved my life," Schofield said, noting that he enrolled in the college after graduating from continuation school in San Mateo. "It gave me options to start brand-new. Faculty believed in me and I want that for other students."
Bennett, a music major from Santa Rosa who started during the Spring 2015 semester, said she heard about the budget cuts and accreditation issues but said, "to hell with that. I want to go whether I get credit or not."
Samora Bennett and Edian Blair Schofield
Supervisor David Campos and Assemblymember David Chiu (former District 3 supervisor) also came out in support, with Chiu predicting a victory for faculty and students with the community's support.
