A Delaware County Campus professor is protesting budget cuts and layoffs within the Commonwealth Educational System and is calling for a walkout by faculty to promote equity within the Penn State system.

Robert Ginsberg, professor of philosophy at Delco, said he is protesting, "so as to reverse the unfair decisions made in the June massacre and to ensure in the future no such devastating actions should be taken in the University against its faculty."

Ginsberg is referring to CES budget cuts and layoffs announced in June 1994.

He had sent a memorandum, consisting of 36 proposals, to University faculty last fall in response to the cuts. Since that time Ginsberg has added four new proposals to the list.

One of the proposals he suggested is to have the University Board of Trustees come to Delco to hold a full day of discussions with faculty, staff and students.

Ginsberg also is calling for, "the immediate end of the CES, which may have been mistaken for a cesspool of mediocrity," and the elevation of all campuses to an equal status.

He said that CES faculty and faculty throughout the University should explore collective bargaining as a prelude to forming a faculty union.

Ginsberg called for faculty at all Commonwealth Campuses to march in protest of CES cuts yesterday. At the Delco campus the turnout was less than he expected.

"It was more than one. What counts is not the size, but the quality of the participation," he said.

Jane Cooper, associate professor of biology and chairwoman of the Delco campus faculty senate, said she is aware of Ginsberg's complaints, but hasn't spoken directly with him about the issues.

The proposals were discussed at the December Delco faculty meeting, but Cooper said the faculty has not endorsed any of the proposals.

The last four proposals, which include the faculty walkout proposal, were never formally presented to the Delco faculty in an organized way, Cooper said.

"We have in no way endorsed any of those last four proposals," she said. "There is sympathy with the general issues, in particular the status of tenure, but I don't think there is sympathy for the actions he proposes."

Cooper also said most faculty would not be supportive of the walkout.

"To the best of my knowledge, there is no sentiment for a work stoppage or general strike," Cooper said. Most faculty would view this as taking something away from students to address faculty needs -- an action most faculty don't favor.

Cooper did say that a representative from the Pennsylvania Education Association will speak to faculty in late February, but she stressed "There is no strong sentiment that we should become unionized. It is just an information gathering process."

Edward S.J. Tomezsko, Delco campus executive officer, said he has not had any direct discussions with Ginsberg, but he is aware of the proposals that were presented to the Delco faculty.

He said while some of what Ginsberg is saying would be justified in a "perfect world," it doesn't take into account the financial responsibilities the University is facing.

"We had to balance our books. We have had enrollment declines in our system for a long time," Tomezsko said.

He said University President Joab Thomas, Senior Vice President and Dean of CES Robert Dunham and John Romano, vice provost for enrollment management and administration have been very cooperative in helping Commonwealth Campuses.

"I don't see the University abandoning us. Just the opposite, I think the University has responded beautifully," Tomezsko said.