Excerpt from the Dayton Daily News
Wright State University’s administration continues to scramble to find options that will prevent further disruptions to classes and ensure students stay on track to graduate as a faculty strike hits day 18.
The university offered advising sessions to students Thursday and today where they could get direction on how to continue classes despite the strike that has left some “specialized” classes without instructors this semester.
At the same time, the Wright State chapter of the American Association of University Professors called on the Ohio governor’s office to intervene. To put pressure on Gov. Mike DeWine and other state leaders, unionized Wright State faculty will host a 10:30 a.m. meeting today in the ladies gallery of the Statehouse.
“At this point we think (WSU leaders) are losing touch with reality,” said Noeleen McIlvenna, an officer for the faculty union. “That’s why the state has to step in.”
Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner have said they are monitoring the ongoing labor dispute. Gardner was on campus Monday to meet with students and hear how they are being affected by the strike.
DeWine is receiving regular updates from Gardner about the strike and said he recently spoke to Schrader about it over the phone. The governor has also said he doesn’t have plans to take any action at this point.
“This is one of those areas where it is not helpful for the governor to indicate what we are going to do,” DeWine said. “Wright State is very important. I’m paying attention.”
