At least 400 Cal Poly Pomona students organized a rally on Oct. 26 after receiving the announcement that all of the lecturers from the College of Science could be fired because of budget cuts.
Gwen Urey, professor in rban and regional planning and also the chapter president for the CFA of the Pomona campus, said approximately 100 College of Science lecturers were told there would be no work for them in the whole college during the winter or spring quarters because there was no money in the department to pay them.
Donald Straney, dean of the Pomona College of Science, wrote a memo to the College of Science faculty saying they have to cover the excess expenses from last year with this year’s budget, which meant they have to reduce their teaching staff due to the decreased amount of funds.
He wrote that there are no funds for part-time lecturers for any department in the College of Science for the winter or spring quarters and that the students were going to feel an impact when it comes to registering for classes.
Urey said that the lecturers found out about the dismissal right before classes and had to go into their classrooms in total shock, and some were on the verge of tears. Students had a very compassionate response, she said, which soon turned to anger.
A day later, 300 to 400 students started making signs and preparing for a rally.
“It was pretty amazing for how fast that happened and how many people showed up,” Urey said.
Signs read, “We want to graduate. Save CPP College of Science” and “I paid my fees. Where are my classes?”
The students marched from the campus quad and moved 200 yards toward the university president’s mansion.
At the time, President Michael Ortiz was throwing a dinner for the new committee of people who were part of the National Development Council to help raise money for the college.
The president had to pull people away from his driveway so the guests could get through.
Urey said that the administration found some money before the demonstration started and the College of Science put a sign up saying “Winter Classes and Spring Classes are back on.”
They needed $1.4 million but only $1 million was restored for teaching all of those classes, Urey said.
“They said they have restored all of the classes that students need,” Urey said. “But they didn’t even ask the students what they need.”
Urey said that in the math and science discipline, there is a certain amount of seats that is a good amount for how many students should be in the class. This is what the cap has been. But the new communication from the dean is that the number of students now put in one classroom is how many seats can actually fit in the room.
Urey said that other colleges on campus have budget problems just like this. She said her department told them that in the spring they were going to have to make cuts like that of the College of Science.
“I think what is going on in the other colleges is that the dean is not necessarily shining a light on the problem,” Urey said.
