Students React After Faculty At PA State Colleges Go On Strike
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – On Wednesday, the union for more than 5,000 faculty and coaches at 14 of Pennsylvania's state universities officially went on strike.
Negotiations broke down late Tuesday night.
At West Chester University, students are reacting to the dozens of faculty members on the picket line.
Lauren Sander, a senior at West Chester, says this is a big concern.
"I'm concerned if this lasts long into the semester, and I don't finish my course load, I can't sit for my certification exam in the spring. If I can't take that exam then that affects when I can go to graduate school, and that's upsetting."
But still, Sander is standing in solidarity with her professors.
"I woke up this morning and came out to see what was going on and I saw two professors who are the head of my department and I felt like I had no choice but to stand with them. I support them."
Spoke to a few @WCUofPA students who showed up to an empty 8am class, say cancellation is frustrating, but understand what faculty is doing.
— Jan Carabeo (@JanCarabeoCBS3) October 19, 2016
West Chester University has posted on their website that students should go to class and if professors aren't there then students can go home.
However, Eyewitness News has heard on the picket line that this strike will essentially shut down classes today.
"I have a class at 10 and my professor is walking right now. So I will not be there, I will be standing here with her. My professors have all told us they will be here striking and I'm not going to go to class to be taught by some replacement professor, that's not what I paid for. I paid to be taught by this incredible faculty that I chose this university for. That's why I'm here."
Fourteen college and universities across Pennsylvania are affected, impacting more than 100,000 students.
