Student Government Association answered students’ questions about the upcoming strike on campus in a public forum on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
President Daniel Palmer addressed students’ concerns in person at the event, which was also streamed live on Facebook.
The forum began with Palmer presenting background information explaining how the university reached this point.
After the brief presentation ended, the remaining hour and a half consisted of student body questions, both from “the AAUP standpoint and also the University standpoint,” Palmer said.
Questions varied from issues concerning the Office of Disability Services to Veterans’ aid.
One student asked why the university will not refund students if they drop a class following the strike.
Palmer encouraged students to ask questions of their substitute teachers and stay enrolled in courses. “Please do not withdraw, but be critical consumers of the professors you have,” he said.
Later, another student asked what will happen if teachers return and decide to not accept grades administered by substitutes.
“I am hopeful that professors recognize you put in effort, showed up to class…and will give you credit for it. If it is a longer strike they are pretty much going to have to take that work, unfortunately. If it is short they have that option. Ultimately, it is their class,” Palmer said.
When asked his opinion on the strike, Palmer said, “I think both sides need to sit down, be adults about the situation and figure it out.”
