Campus Equity Week Advocates Hope to See Equality

Teresa Wilson

Photo Editor

Advocates for Campus Equity Week (CEW) hope to educate the Shasta College student body regarding the inequalities adjunct (part-time) faculty face in the higher education system.

A 30-minute documentary film, Degrees of Shame, will portray the situation of adjunct faculty who teach in the California Community College system. The film is produced and directed by Barbara Wolf and will be shown in room 400 on Wednesday, November 1st at 3:00 p.m. and in room 1632, Thursday, November 2nd at 6:00 p.m. There is no charge for the event and the viewing is open to all students and staff.

The California Community College system is the largest in the world. Of the 72 California Community College districts, nearly 50% of the faculty is classified as part-time. This growing trend among the state’s higher education system is one which proponents for CEW want to change.

The CEW movement began in October 2005 with the goal to provide public education and generate activism surrounding a growing issue among adjunct faculty: lack of job security, seniority or flexibility in the work schedule of a teacher. Students who have adjunct faculty as teachers may not be afforded the same learning experience a full-time teacher may provide. Adjunct faculty members do not have on campus offices or dedicated campus phone numbers, making contact with them difficult for students. The only means of communication may be in-class or by e-mail.

CEW is designed to inform students and the community of these inequalities taking place in the education system as well as to gain support from students, staff and the community. Awareness is the goal of the campaign.

The film is being shown with the support of the Community College Association, Shasta College Faculty Association, Shasta College Student Senate and the California Part Time Faculty Association.

CEW will have booths around the Shasta College campus from October 30^th to November 3^rd designed to educate and promote the movement to students, faculty and staff. For more information about CEW, go to www.campusequityweek.org.