CSUS chief faces verdict
Sacramento Bee 4/6/07
It's not looking great for Alexander Gonzalez, the subject of the vote. Breaking into applause whenever someone spoke of their anger toward Gonzalez, the Faculty Senate of California State University, Sacramento, voted overwhelmingly Thursday to place the no-confidence referendum in front of all instructors in the next few weeks.
The final vote was 36-7, with one abstention, in favor of holding the referendum, which probably will be conducted within 10 days.
The referendum probably will go against Gonzalez, faculty members said after Thursday's vote.
"People are just very upset," said Bob Buckley, who teaches in the computer science department.
Through a spokesman, Gonzalez declined to comment about the Senate's decision, saying he needed more time to study the language of the referendum.
That language expresses anger about Gonzalez's handling of university finances and frustration about the $6.5 million structural deficit the school faces this year.
In an effort to balance the books, the CSUS administration has been thrifty recently with funding for academic affairs, the heart and soul of the university and its largest expenditure.
Many faculty are worried that things are going to get worse under Gonzalez.
"We are looking at enormous budget cuts that will decimate departments next year," Matt McCormick, an assistant professor of philosophy, said in asking the Faculty Senate to hold the referendum. "This is urgent."
At the same time, faculty are angry that spending for university advancement -- such as recruitment of students and community advocacy -- has increased.
Faculty Senate Chair Michael Fitzgerald is among those who think that Gonzalez will lose the upcoming referendum. He couldn't recall a similar referendum in the last 20 years.
"The only way it might not go against him is if the president starts making some statements," Fitzgerald said after the Senate vote. "He hasn't made that defense to the faculty."
In an interview last month, Gonzalez said the failure to meet enrollment targets, among other things, has put the administration in a bind, and cuts had to be made.
Academic affairs' funding makes up the bulk of the budget.
"Everyone has to take a hit," he added.
The language of the referendum is harsh. At one point,it expresses "outrage over his placement of the interests of management, publicity and cultivation of community favor over the needs of the instructional program."
The semester ends in late May, so the referendum will move quickly, Fitzgerald said.
First, Fitzgerald's office will take statements supporting and critiquing Gonzalez's performance as university president. Those opinions will be disseminated among the faculty.
Then, probably within 10 days, faculty will start voting. They'll probably have about two weeks to turn in their secret ballots, Fitzgerald said.