Students view university in different light because of strike
PDF As the administration and faculty work through labor disputes, some students say the strike has not only changed their perception of the university but also their perception of life.
As more than 100 professors stand on picket lines rather than in their classrooms, Chancellor Rita Cheng said she hopes students still confide in the university during these difficult days. She said some students have been affected, while others have not.
Anthony Pickens, a junior from St. Louis studying journalism, said he’s been enlightened on what the real world is because of the strike
“It has opened my eyes to the real world, and things like this happen and you can be impacted by them,” Pickens said.
Cheng said administrators have no plans to address the retention of students during the strike because they are putting all energy into negotiations. However, she said the administration will continue to emphasize the university’s strengths.
“We are all going to have to communicate how strong our programs are. It’s the best university for the students who are here, and they can transfer but it’s not to get the best education,” Cheng said. “They can get the best here.”
Kori Craig, a senior from Manhattan studying communication disorders and sciences, said even though her perception of the university has not changed, she is concerned how the situation will impact her education as she makes plans after graduation.
“You can’t replace years of experience,” she said. “You can’t put a price tag on teachers with knowledge who have information about the field we’re getting prepared to go into.”
Craig said it is scary to think about recommendation letters and graduation program applications without the assistance of professors in her field.
“I believe it sets a really bad impression for freshmen because it doesn’t show the university having a very solid foundation,” she said. “When the faculty and administration are not on the same wavelength, it paints a very scary picture.”
Cheng said she has received letters of both support and criticism from students questioning whether they made the right decision about coming to SIU. She said other letters from students have said they have not been impacted and don’t know what the fuss is about.
Shakeia Smith, a senior studying cinema and photography from Carbondale, said her views have changed. She said she now thinks she may be wasting money since her professors have walked out and she’s relying more on her classmates.
“During the first week, we didn’t have an instructor and we had a student in class go over our class projects with us,” Smith said.
She said it’s hard to get the information needed without an instructor. Although she will continue to go to class and maintain her coursework, she said the strike makes it difficult.
Dave Johnson, Faculty Association spokesman, said the strike will affect students differently. He said he thinks it has been a lesson about the power students have when they stand up for their beliefs.
“(The strike) is disruptive, and I wish I was in the classroom, but there are a lot of students learning lessons on the picket lines,” he said. “I think it can change their perceptions of themselves. I think it will have a transformative effect on some students who will see that they are not just passive players soaking up knowledge, but they are active and they can have a real say in what goes on at this campus.”
