More Than 13,000 Sign Petition to Save Sonoma State

In just two weeks, our petition to Save Sonoma State garnered more than 13,000 signatures in support of reversing the proposed cuts to faculty jobs, academic programs, and athletics. These signatures reveal the myriad of students, faculty, staff, alumni, athletes, and community members who are deeply concerned about the future of the university and their community.

Last month, Sonoma State administrators announced a significant restructuring plan that includes eliminating 23 academic programs and shutting down the intercollegiate athletics program. These drastic measures, if implemented, will have a distressing impact on the campus community and beyond.

In response, campus workers, students, and local leaders took immediate action to push back against these decisions. On January 30, hundreds of people took to Sonoma State’s Seawolf Plaza to protest management’s harrowing decisions. Growing public pressure also led North Bay legislators to call for an in-person hearing on February 21 to address concerns about the severity of these cuts and the lack of transparency around the decision-making process.

Last Thursday, Sonoma State campus unions compounded their efforts by organizing a Valentine’s Day-themed protest. CFA members and Students for Quality Education (SQE), along with UAW, Teamsters, and CSUEU members, held a “Broken Hearts Party” to both draw attention to the campus restructuring and deliver our petition to interim President Emily Cutrer.

More than 150 faculty, students, and staff gathered in the Stevenson Hall to make Valentine’s Day cards that captured their sentiments about the university’s future. Activists also unfurled very long rolls of petition signatures from the second floor, revealing the overwhelming support for stopping the cuts.

“I have never seen this much mobilization! 10,000 plus signatures on the petition,” exclaimed Tim Wandling, CFA Sonoma Vice President and Sonoma State professor. “The grassroots energy here is amazing, and I was very proud to help drop those pages and pages of the petition from the second floor of Stevenson Hall!”

Read more about Wandling and CFA Sonoma President and Sonoma State Professor Elaine Newman’s vision to transition to a faculty-driven model that can address both the budget crisis and administration’s harmful approach to student success.

Shortly after unveiling the petition signatures, the crowd gathered outside the administrative office while a small number of students personally hand-delivered the Valentine’s box to administrators in President Cutrer’s absence.

“It was heartbreaking to see how many people showed up and expressed their pain to our president,” said Josue Chavez, SQE intern and Sonoma State student. “The reason why I say ‘heartbreaking’ is because of the number of students, faculty, and families that are going to be impacted by budget proposals. They will hit the major demographics that make up the majority of Sonoma State and the Sonoma County area.”

Sonoma State alum Jaylen Wells, now a player for the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, also voiced his concern at a press conference on Monday. He emphasized how much Sonoma State meant to him and urged decision-makers to reconsider the cuts to academic programs and athletics.

The battle to save the CSU extends far beyond Sonoma State. The combination of financial mismanagement of existing funds and a potential $375 million cut to the CSU system threatens the future of public higher education in California.

Although Sonoma State is the latest campus to experience severe cuts, similar reductions have already impacted Chico State, CSU East Bay, Cal Poly Humboldt, CSU Los Angeles, CSU Monterey Bay, CSU San Bernardino, and San Francisco State.

CSU management continues to insist on austerity measures, despite having the necessary resources to avoid it. As of June 30, 2024, the CSU’s operating fund – which is intended to ensure the university continues running in times of economic uncertainty – totaled $2.4 billion. Reversing all cuts at Sonoma State would only cost $23.9 million, or less than one percent of the CSU’s operating fund. Still, management refuses to act.

The issue that we face is not a lack of resources. Rather, it is the prioritization of corporate and private interests above the needs of our students.

During her time as chancellor, García has demonstrated serious disregard for the well-being of the CSU community. Wave after wave of self-serving managerial decisions have culminated in the loss of educational opportunities across the state. Though support for students has plummeted, executive salaries have soared alongside money invested into capital projects.

“Students will not back down. We are in solidarity with opposing these proposed budget cuts and have witnessed a shared level of lost trust for the current and numerous administrations attempting to continue privatizing a public education system,” said Chavez.

We must confront the deep-rooted structural issues within CSU leadership, and we must also ensure that the governor’s proposed cuts do not reach the CSU, for they worsen the hardships and make it nearly impossible for our students to access an affordable and quality education.

We will be holding a unionwide town hall on February 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. to both raise and take actions to address these concerns.