Fallout continues following the late Thursday evening petition by the California Faculty Association (CFA) and the California State University Employees Union (CSUEU) asking Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval to resign.

The CFA, CSUEU, Jiménez-Sandoval and leadership of the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) have all weighed in on the situation.

Andrew Jones, Fresno chapter president for the CFA, said that the CFA is withdrawing support for the petition, saying that the real problem lies in the California State University chancellor’s office.

“After meeting with the presidents of ASI, CSUEU and President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, I have written a retraction, withdrawing support for the petition,” Jones said in an email to The Collegian. “This retraction will go out Monday, as recommended to me by CFA Statewide leadership.”

Friday morning, Jiménez-Sandoval addressed his colleagues in a faculty-wide email saying the petition is a surprise to him.

“I am surprised at this message, especially when Fresno State has a balanced budget and all funding is explained to the Academic Senate, Staff Assembly, and ASI on an annual basis,” Jiménez-Sandoval said in the email. “I am actively working to schedule a meeting with union leadership to better understand this situation.”

The petition included logos from the CFA and the CSUEU.

Although the petition presents the logos of both unions, several CSUEU members have confirmed to The Collegian that they were not consulted before the petition was created and sent out. Several CFA members were also unaware.

“I have been in touch with many union members who did not receive this message and were unaware that it was coming,” Jiménez-Sandoval said in the email.

ASI executives have drafted and proposed a memorandum statement that they will present to the senate for approval this week.

Here is what The Collegian knows.

What does the petition say?



What is the CFA saying?

The original endorsement of the petition from the CFA comes from its need to stand in solidarity with the CSUEU, according to Jones.

“This was a mistake on my part, and I acknowledge this in the retraction,” Jones said. “I had presented a draft of the petition to CFA’s Executive Board at our last meeting a week ago, but after meeting with a CSUEU representative, opted for endorsement after it was clear CSUEU was going ahead with the petition.”

Jones also said that there is no direct process in the union bylaws for assessing or endorsing a petition.

“… But as we are a member-led union, the CFA Executive Board should have been involved more than it was,” he said.

He added that although the language of the petition should have been different, the concerns are real. He explained that much of Fresno State’s staff is working second jobs to make ends meet.

“Though the process by which the petition came about is highly problematic, the underlying reasons for its existence are very real, though not conveyed in the language of the petition,” Jones said.

He pointed out that faculty and staff are angry about budget cuts that affect them as well as students.

“This is especially egregious, given the Chancellor is sitting on reserve funds from investments of over $8 billion,” Jones said.

Ultimately, Jones said, Jiménez-Sandoval is not the root of the problem.

“President Jiménez-Sandoval may have been the focus of this petition, but the real source of the problem rests with the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees for the CSU,” he said.

What is ASI saying?

On Friday evening, Frederick Lisitsa, ASI executive vice president, released the ASI senate agenda for Sept. 25 along with a statement from executives saying that issuing a petition calling for the president’s resignation without consulting the student body or student government was wrong.

“This action blatantly disregards the students’ voices and undermines the potential for unified progress,” the statement says.

ASI President Faith Van Hoven also released a personal statement in support of Jiménez-Sandoval.

ASI will be using its bi-weekly senate meeting on Sept. 25 to address the situation.

“We will be discussing and voting on a memorandum addressing recent concerns raised about university leadership and the involvement of student voices in these discussions,” Lisitsa said.

The statement also demands that next time a major decision like this is made, student voices must be included.

“Moving forward, any decisions that impact the future of our university must include student voices, and we demand that this level of respect and consideration be given,” the statement says. “These decisions cannot be divorced from student wishes while attempting to invoke students in actions.”

During the senate meeting at 4 p.m. in Resnick Student Union Room 207, the senate will discuss and vote upon the memorandum. The vote is to instate the memorandum and ensure that all involved parties will connect in respective communication.

ASI invites the entire campus community to attend and voice their concerns.

How does Debbie Adishian-Astone fit into the situation?

The petition asking for Jiménez-Sandoval’s resignation adds another element to the controversy: According to its language, the primary reason for the petition is because of the announcement by high-ranking campus official Debbie Adishian-Astone of her impending retirement and Jiménez-Sandoval’s support of her.

“President Jiménez-Sandoval used the highest of accolades for Debbie Adishian-Astone, the outgoing Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer, whose tenure saw the campus investigated for Title IX noncompliance, including multiple failures to protect staff, faculty and students against management sexual harassment, hostile work environments, retaliation, and bullying,” the petition reads.

It also targets Adishian-Astone’s role in the financial issues plaguing the Save Mart Center.

What is the CSUEU saying?

“We recognize the magnitude of the demand we are making in calling for President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval to step down,” CSUEU President Catherine Hutchinson said in a statement to the media. “The fact that faculty, staff, and students are united shows that the President has failed the Fresno State community. We see the failures in leadership, financial responsibility, and delegation of authority. We need a leader who will listen to students, faculty and staff and then acts on those concerns by executing a culture change. Do not dismiss us anymore.”

What is the president saying?

In his faculty-wide email, Jiménez-Sandoval says he is actively working with union members to further understand the situation.

The president met with union leaders Friday afternoon, The Fresno Bee reported.

Jiménez-Sandoval said he wants to partake in constructive conversation and is willing to listen.

“I am accessible and fully open to dialogue – the more we engage in constructive conversation, the better we will be able to carry on our noble mission of educating our talented students and empowering our Valley communities,” he said in the email.

He will be hosting a university open forum for staff and faculty at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in the Fresno State Library and invites attendees to bring their questions.

The same day, ASI President Faith Van Hoven and President Jiménez-Sandoval are co-hosting an event, “Popcorn with the Presidents” at 2 p.m. in the RSU.

Correction: The open forum on Thursday, Sept. 26 is for staff and faculty only. The student open forum is on the same day at 2 p.m. in the RSU.