UC Education: Down the Tubes

The New York Times ran an article on the destruction of the UC system.  Significantly, the article directed its analysis almost entirely at the UC’s research mission and what may be lost in that area because of budget cuts.  Only briefly mentioned was the affect of those cuts on students.

I have been a member of the University Council American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT) since its inception.  This union represents lecturers, non-tenured faculty, in the UC system.  We are hired to be teachers; and some estimates hold that 50% of undergraduate classes are taught by lecturers.  They are being cut mercilessly in this crisis and the effect of these cuts upon the quality of undergraduate education are clear and immediate.

I am proud of the Union and its attempt to represent student interests, as well its own.  I am especially proud to know the current President of the UCAFT, Bob Samuels, who appeared recently on “Democracy Now” as follows:’


For more on the crisis see Bob’s blog, Changing Universities.