Special to The Collegian
Kelly Caplan
On April 11, the VP of Student affairs sent a message to my inbox at 4:44 p.m. informing students and faculty about a forum proposing a remodeled USU and Faculty Development Center. This forum was set for the next day at Noon. While I am glad there is another forum occurring at Noon on April 27, I’m suspicious about the surprising nature of the initial e-mail. Because of work, I was unable to attend the first forum and I have personally seen this tactic used to prevent concerned people from attending and asking hard questions like “how much is this going to cost” or, perhaps “are you making students pay for it?”
I understand there’s a brand to uphold (although I cringe at the fact that my education is now a privatized commodity), but I am not going to allow our administration do so at the expense of students, if that is the case. It would seem rather ironic asking students for money after recently opening Fresno State’s Student Cupboard due to the 1 in 3 students who are food insecure. While the model pictures look shiny and pretty, you best find another way to pay for it. And while you’re at it, perhaps you should consider dishing out private funds to fix our decaying buildings? Or maybe actually give the English department their own building? And possibly, in the process, you could get your priorities straight?
MP3BASE • Mar 2, 2017 at 12:04 am
Wow am loving this collegian
Person223 • Aug 25, 2016 at 2:36 pm
How is your education a privatized commodity? I’m not sure what you mean by that. CSU Fresno is a public school. Is the English department unable to function in a building which also houses another department? This is so vague, yet you say the university needs to get their priorities straight. How, specifically?
Hosep76 • Apr 25, 2016 at 6:40 am
If you want to take issue with costs, then we need to confront the Sacramento Legislature that continues to spend on the UC schools and treats the entire CSU system like a step child to the UC system. Don’t complain if you are not willing to confront the source.
Students for Quality Education • Apr 25, 2016 at 8:45 am
We have already, and we will continue doing it. Two steps ahead! Informing students about issues that implies their rights are not complaints.
Hosep76 • Apr 25, 2016 at 7:32 pm
Seems like you have another agenda then your expressed concern for students rights. What is the problem with the State building and updating infrastructure to better the on campus experience for all students? All the while the University offers us highly discounted food and supplies from the cupboard, not available off campus to the public. Not sure what was the purpose of your article?
Dan Waterhouse • Apr 25, 2016 at 5:17 am
Kelly, the USU forum was well advertised-I knew about it several weeks in advance. There’s a second one on Wednesday at noon in Kreman 140. I suggest you and other students add Fresno State’s Facebook and Twitter pages to your internet browsing to keep up with what’s going on on campus.
Now for your question about new buildings. The CSU used to be able to go to the legislature to ask for funds specifically for building new classrooms. The legislature no longer permits that. The CSU now has to finance new buildings on its own. The biggest source of non-State funds for building projects historically are bonds, followed by private donations. If bonds are used, typically a dedicated student fee is put in place in some cases to help pay them off. That’s how the present USU was financed and paid for.
The Master Plan envisions a remake of campus with taller buildings. Eventually most of the oldest buildings on campus are to be replaced, including the Lab School, the two gyms, Social Science and McKee-Fisk. The major roadblock is money. Chancellor White when he was here spoke of possibly pursuing a bond issue for new buildings statewide, but that generally requires voter approval.
I remember when the English Department had its own building (although shared with ethnic studies). It was a 30 year old “temporary” wood frame building just north of McLane Hall. Towards the end of its life, the building had deteriorated to the point that people were dropping through the floor from the second story. The department definitely was happy when it was moved over to Peters.