The effect of a strike by tenured and tenure-track faculty could be seen in half-empty classrooms Thursday.

While university officials said it looked like business as usual on campus despite about 100 pickets at entrances to campus, many students said attendance was far lower than normal in their classes and some students reported their classes were canceled. Students without instructors said they were told to return for the next class meeting, when a substitute would hold class.

The majority of professors represented by the Faculty Association continued to teach as usual, but union members said about 200 of their colleagues had joined the strike.

Students in Dr. Jo Ann Argersinger’s History 110 lecture are addressed Thursday by Susan Wills, an attendance monitor, during class. Students in attendance were recorded by Wills and then dismissed. – Sarah Gardner | Daily Egyptian

Rod Sievers, university spokesman, said the strike would have “minimal impact” on picketing professors’ classes.

Department chairs and college deans were amongst those who taught in place of the striking faculty.

In one sociology class, which was taught by a substitute, seven of about 50 students attended.

Jordan Ohl, a junior from Jacksonville studying biology, said although he did not receive any cancellation notice, neither his teaching assistant or professor were present in his class. He said he walked in and left when he realized nobody was there.

Campus parking lots that are typically crowded had plenty of available spots. The faculty parking lots in particular were noticeably spacious.

Kathy Glieewell, a Chartwells employee in the Student Center, said business was slower than usual and believed it was a result of the strike.

“There’s been quite a bit of a decline,” she said. “It was really busy yesterday.”

Dave Johnson, spokesman for the Faculty Association, said at 11 a.m. there were no plans for the union to bargain with administrators today.

Please see Friday’s edition of the Daily Egyptian for an updated version of this story.