Excerpt from WDTN
Less than a week before 560 faculty members at Wright State University go on strike, dozens of students gathered to have their questions answered.
The Student Government Association at Wright State University hosted a forum open only to students Wednesday night to take questions about the upcoming strike. The meeting was closed to union members, faculty and administration, according to organizers.
All of the students who spoke with 2 NEWS Wednesday night said they aren't taking sides in the labor dispute, adding that they just want to see the union and administration reach a resolution.
But many said they are concerned about their classes during the strike — especially the possibility of substitute teachers taking over some of those classes starting Tuesday,
"I'm kind of concerned about it because I am in my upper-level classes this semester," said Olivia Starcher, a Wright State junior.
Students are stuck in the middle of the labor dispute, in which members of the American Association of University Professors and the Wright State Board of Trustees have reached a stalemate over compensation, workload and benefits.
"Students are very worried," said Adrian Williams, student body vice president. "They're worried about their classes, whether they can get letters of recommendation, how this is going to affect their accreditation."
Some students at this forum asked about who will be teaching classes in place of faculty members on strike.
"I want to have the quality teacher there to be able to kind of get the quality education I need to get my degree in the spring," said Billy Smith, a senior. "And right now, if we have some staff or faculty teaching a class they have no idea what it is, how are students really getting the quality education Wright State's promising?"
