After working without a contract for over a year, the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) went on strike 5 a.m. Oct. 19.

According to APSCUF, on Tuesday evening, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education handed down its last best offer and stated it was done negotiating.

The offer failed to meet APSCUF demands and faculty began to strike at 14 state colleges.

Locally, Kutztown University is one of the affected facilities and as the sun rose over the Berks County campus, students awoke to the news the strike had begun.

Faculty were already stationed at entranceways surrounding the university, holding signs and chanting.

As students began to hear of the strike, many congregated together, made their own signs, many in favor of the faculty, and began parading around campus.

At 11 a.m., Dan Spiegel, Kutztown University APSCUF spokesperson and public relations chair, held a press conference at the main entrance to the campus.

“There are many issues in contention, but management, in their public pronouncements, emphasizes salary and claims not only that their offers are fair, but that they have continually bargained in good faith,” Spiegel said. “Regrettably, nothing could be further from the truth.”

At 477 days past the contract expiration, Spiegel claimed, “The one thing has been persistent is PASSHE’s (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education) insistence on implementing proposals that will degrade the quality of the education we offer, the value of the degrees we confer, and the conditions under which we perform this important work.

“If the current negotiations turn out badly, the future of these institutions is most certainly in jeopardy, and an exodus of the best and brightest will be felt in our workplace.”

Spiegel had harsh words for Frank Brogen, chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

“Our current chancellor was hired under an anti-education governor, and it is clear he places cost-cutting, except his salary and the administrative bloat throughout this system, above quality. But it’s not just him. A change in culture in this system is badly needed.

“We can do better than this. We must.

“As a member of a PASSHE faculty, I am among the last bastion guarding the quality of education at our institutions. That’s why I’m on strike; I cannot, in good conscience, permit this system’s dedication to quality to be abandoned.”

Amanda Morris, APSCUF, Kutztown Chapter president then addressed the crowd.

“Our student support has been exceptional, and we chose to come to a teaching school because we want to teach these students,” said Morris as a long line of students with a signs and a bullhorn paraded up Kutztown Road.

Other students showed their support by beeping horns and cheering.

“I whole heartedly stand with my faculty,” commented Rachael Hamilton, Kutztown University Junior and graduate of Parkland High School, who held a sign and stood in attendance during the press conference. “I hope they will continue to fight for a fair contract and I support them fully and appreciate them.”

“It’s very gratifying to have the support of our students,” Spiegel said.“Our success is measured by the success of our students. I want to be back in the classroom.”