CFA Members Mobilize in Second Unionwide Town Hall to Address Ongoing Issues

A second CFA unionwide town hall was held on April 1 to further our conversation on meaningful ways to combat the ongoing challenges that impact our university.

While the first town hall focused more on informing CFA members on intersecting threats to our education system, this session contextualized them into a larger campaign and emphasized collaborative ways to liberate the CSU from these threats.
In the different breakout rooms focusing on navigating A.I., preventing budget cuts, protecting free speech and academic freedom, and fighting immigration raids, CFA members discussed the importance for cross-union solidarity and the need to build networks across different industries and organizations.

A.I. has continued to make its way onto our campuses, and with the announcement that the CSU is an A.I.-powered university, the issue has become even more pressing than before for the infrastructure of our education system.

One member noted that while some administrators were excited for the change, there were no considerations on how A.I. would impact privacy, racial and gender biases, and the environment.  The “CSU Ethical and Responsible Use” page only offers guidance on practical strategies for students, faculty, and staff on the use of A.I., without informing them on the potential harms it can cause. There is also nothing mentioning how our privacy will be safeguarded.

Another faculty shared out from their breakout group on immigration, which realized how strongly tied their work was to free speech. They emphasized the need to be more conscious of the challenges faced by those dealing with violations of their First Amendment rights.

“Our union is a vehicle for struggle. We can fight the cuts, the austerity, and we can fight for academic freedom rights.”

Students for Quality Education (SQE) has been at the forefront of the issue of free speech with the Hands Off Students campaign. More than a handful of students, particularly students of color, have recently been targeted with alleged Time, Place, and Manner (TPM) violations. In the TPM and Hands Off Students breakout group, one member stressed the importance of being co-conspirators with our students, and ensuring that both the CSU administration and the Trump administration refrain from infringing on students’ ability to express themselves freely.

At Sacramento State, CFA members have been working closely with the Dreamer Resource Center to educate students on their rights. They’ve also held rapid response and de-escalation trainings, as well as mapping out spaces that could serve as sanctuary spaces in the event that ICE appears on campus.

In response to the relentless pursuit by the Trump administration targeting our undocumented and mixed status students, CFA-sponsored Senate Bill 98. This bill would require education institutions to notify all stakeholders in the event that immigration officers are on campus.

Those concerned about budget cuts and job layoffs participated in the “Red for Ed” week, and have been building toward the April 17 National Day of Action for Higher Education. Some faculty have split off to engage in local lobbying to get politicians to take a more active role in the ongoing layoffs, while others have spent their time scrutinizing CSU finances and exposing management’s lack of transparency and questionable fiscal practices.

At the heart of these discussions, one member reminded us that, despite the exhaustion from the last few years of ongoing efforts, it is important to recognize and feel our sense of agency. “Our union is a vehicle for struggle,” they said. “We can fight the cuts, the austerity, and we can fight for academic freedom rights.”

A third and final town hall for this spring semester will take place in early May. We will keep you informed on the upcoming details.