Portrayal in the Media and Outside Perspectives

Throughout the strike, a variety of news stations gathered at the fourteen state system campuses. Most of the coverage concerning Millersville University aired from WGLA and Blue Ridge Communications 11. Over the radio, NPR radio hosts provided additional information. Live interviews began shortly after the strike was called. APSCUF President Barry David recounted the frantic phone call he received from Ken Smith on the morning of the walk-out. Driving through the dark towards campus, David answered Smith’s call “that the TV crew was here...looking for a live interview.”1 The interview was to be aired during the six o’clock news. Smith took the interview. Over the course of the next three mornings, various media sources continued to flood Millersville campus, all of them asking for interviews. Some of the outlets included the Wall Street Journal and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Stories of the strike eventually reached national news, informing a broader audience than just the individuals directly involved and the local community. In his interview, David recounted the moment he realized the breadth of the strike:

Tonight on WHP 21

With a different point of view, some narrators discussed the scarcity of information offered by the media. To Jeff Adams (Associate Provost) coverage of the strike was particularly weak. Continuously checking the PASSHE and APSCUF sites, while staying updated on the local media and NPR, he found “most of the local media coverage so thin it was hard to know what to make of it.”3 The majority of broadcastings struck him as superficial, focusing only on information from the press releases as opposed to independently verifying the facts. As a result, reactions from the public varied. Some narrators described the responses as generally supportive, commenting on the encouraging messages they got on Facebook and Twitter. In general, the online community seemed mostly loving, sharing and liking the posts shared on social media about the strike. Faculty members received pictures of themselves via text message from friends and family watching the news about the strike with positive captions typed underneath. At home, neighbors commented on the commitment, dedication and passion visible on the picket lines.

Millersville University Strike 

On Strike! Teachers, students at picket line for Day 1

A few narrators described the negative reactions expressed by parents, the public, and some students. Mostly fueled by misinformation from the media, some people outside of Millersville University saw the walk-out as petty. Compared to most jobs, the benefits provided by the state surpassed those provided by other employers. Some saw the faculty members as out-of-touch with reality, arguing that they should be grateful for what they had. Also stemming from a lack of information, a few parents expressed feelings of anger for the faculty, viewing the strike as a way to cheat students out of money and ruin graduation plans. In particular, Carrie Smith (Sociology) recalled that on the third day of the strike a car pulled up near her picketing location. Leaning out the window, a small child exclaimed, “Get back to work.”5 Aiming to keep the atmosphere positive, Smith simply smiled and let him know they would “when we get a fair contract.”6 Greg Seigworth noted public misperceptions about the strike:

Keeping the public informed

This separation between academics and the public acted as a space for misunderstandings to grow, allowing individuals outside of the university to formulate negative biases towards the strike. The lack of information released by the media only helped to stabilize the critical and dismissive opinions. Therefore, the experiences on the picket line taught faculty how to respond to those who disagreed and the importance of keeping a positive attitude when faced with opposition. By refusing to respond in a negative manner, it increased the possibility for discussion. In some cases, this helped to create an understanding between the picketers and the public.