We have a financial and practical suggestion that might help save our university in these critical times. As part of their regular workload, the faculty might take over “light housekeeping tasks” currently being done by others.
For example, the natural sciences — especially botany — could easily take charge of the university grounds work by trimming trees, mowing lawns and planting flowers; all of which they are expert in.
Math and business could easily take over university finances where they could devise more savings and innovative ways of garnering revenues — perhaps derivatives and mortgages on dorms.
Physics and art faculty must consider building maintenance — repair for the first, re-painting for the second — and we can’t have the usual theory/practice fight over the inability of the art history people to wield a brush.
Psychology would, of course, be prepared to offer therapy to our distressed colleagues. Everyone has a part to play and everyone can decide how he or she can do their part.
Following this path, not only would the California State University eliminate expensive union workers, but the money saved could go directly to fund more raises for the administration.
— Margo Kasdan, professor emerita, San Francisco State University
— Martin Fiebert, psychology professor, CSU Long Beach