Thankfully we have passed our first fiscal
crisis of the year. When they rejected
Proposition 92 on Super Tuesday, California
voters refused to limit state funding for the
California State University and other segments
of government still further by locking into the
Constitution large amounts of the budget for
Community Colleges.
Cranking up for an even greater threat, the CSU-ERFA
Executive Committee in February unanimously
approved a
resolution urging the Governor, Legislature and
academic leaders to proceed with careful
reflection rather than rush headlong into
slash-and-burn measures in the state budget.
The committee also voted unanimously to enlist
in the thankfully unified campaign of the
Chancellor, Trustees, Academic Senate and
California Faculty Association to cooperate in
the achievement of responsible long-range
goals. I urge that you all read these
resolutions, spread their wisdom widely among
your associates, and participate in any way
possible with the united campaign. If you read
this in print too late to feel that you can have
an impact, this should be an inspiration for you
to check the CSU-ERFA website that has already
been updated as I write this admonition "for the
record." Our resolutions are also available on
Listserv and you will have received it if you
have authorized us to add your email address for
Listserv purposes -- and if not, why not?
Surely budget discussions will continue well
through the summer.
Emeritus and Retired Faculty are highly
qualified to speak with authority on these
issues because our salaries are not at stake.
Thus we are selflessly advancing an expression
of respect and commitment for the California
State University, for what it has always been
and what it should continue to be, rather than
seeking any personal gain.
I had intended to devote this column entirely to
the courtesies, good will and tangible benefits
that CSU-ERFA receives regularly from our host
campus, California State University,
Northridge. But our history is that budgets
have a way of intervening. I hope that earlier
presidents have from time to time formally
expressed gratitude for this splendid
relationship. This past year the CSUN campus
has given still more evidence of its
appreciation for retired faculty, both in the
San Fernando Valley and throughout the state.
The earthquake of January 16, 1994 made such a
shambles of the Administration Building that it
was vacant for many years. After complete
removal of the interior of the building and
reinforcement to withstand any future
earthquake, the building was renamed Bayramian
Hall and was reopened to house several
university departments. The campus Association
of Retired Faculty (called ARF but certainly no
dog despite the tiny one that parades across its
website) was assigned offices on the fifth
floor. ARF then welcomed CSU-ERFA to a generous
share of that space, just as they had through
the many years when they were consigned to a
temporary building across campus. A goal
since I became CSU-ERFA President was to
schedule a meeting of the Executive Committee on
the Northridge campus. This was finally
accomplished in February and left an
appreciative committee with even more
appreciation of our CSUN colleagues.
Further proof of this good will was demonstrated
in December when we submitted a membership
survey to help us with decisions on your
greatest interests and needs. This was funded
by a very generous donation from Milton Dobkin
of Humboldt State, one of our earliest
Presidents and still a member of the Executive
Committee and chair of the Health Benefits
Committee. ARF members volunteered to handle
the mailing, which lessened the tax on Milt’s
wallet; still generous but less painful. Most
reflective of our level of cooperation, some ARF
members actually complained that their
help had not been solicited.
Friends like these are friends indeed!
