Thread by @PA_Spotlight

HAPPENING NOW: @APSCUF is holding a virtual press conference speaking out against the @statesystem's plan to consolidate 6 universities and lay off hundreds of faculty members.

The zoom event is just getting started with Dr. Jamie Martin, the president of @APSCUF, and is a first generation graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

"It's hard for me to believe that there is so little detail in a document that's 439 pages."

"It looks like students at Mansfield and Lock Haven will have to take all their classes online."

There are issues of equity and accessibility for students who will have to take online classes.

The cost of consolidation will cost $30 million and save $19 million.

Laying off faculty and professors will cause economic hardships in the towns they live.

Up next is @PaAFL_CIO President @RWBloomingdale.

In each of those universities, all 14 of them, they are major drivers of economic factors. Small businesses in those towns were not consulted.

Even though they are not talking about closing, we've been down this road before. Consolidation is the first step in the process.

These universities have been around for a long long time and they have worked for a long long time.

The state system produces smart, talented folks across our commonwealth.

This has not been well thought out. It is short in detail. This is a bad idea, this a bad idea for Pennsylvania.

Next is @afscmecouncil13 executive David Henderson.

This is a rushed plan that will do economic harm to Pennsylvania.

"All of a sudden, their jobs are at risk during a pandemic."

This report indicates that the economic impacts will be worse than originally reported.

Most job cuts are coming from counties with poverty rates at 12 or 13 percent.

Small businesses rely on the workers and the students from these universities.

PASSHE's proposed cuts will compound the results of factory and manufacturing losses from these areas.

This is a misguided effort that did not engage all the stakeholders.

.@statesystem used made up students to promote their consolidation plan. @APSCUF has an actual student speaking out against their plan.

"They used fictional stories from made up students. I'm here to share my real story."

The majority of students at Lock Haven do not support this consolidation plan.

"We need advocates for increased state funding." "We're 47th in the nation in funding for public higher education."

@APSCUF President Jamie Martin.

The state has to step up. Do you believe in higher education or don't you?

- @PaAFL_CIO President Rick Bloomingdale.