Bittersweet Graduation for CSUF’s Class of ’91 : Commencement: The joyful event is dampened by the school’s financial crisis--its worst in its 32-year history.

President Milton A. Gordon, speaking at his first commencement since taking over at Cal State Fullerton, told members of the class of 1991 they had been fortunate to attend the institution “during years that were particularly good for the campus and for the school.”

“You have profited from the addition of new faculty, the creation of new interdisciplinary programs and the increase in attention paid to international issues and improvement in instructional technologies,” he said Saturday to graduates of the School of Humanities and Social Services, one of eight commencement exercises planned this weekend for more than 6,000 students.

Although Gordon didn’t mention it, the crowd of graduates in black caps and gowns and their friends and relatives who gathered on a grassy area on campus to watch them receive their diplomas were well aware that the days of plenty have come to an end.

The school, facing its worst financial crisis in its 32-year history, anticipates having to lay off up to 200 lecturers, cutting 10% of the classes, reducing library hours and raising student fees.

So the usual joy of graduation was bittersweet this year as those leaving the campus considered what was awaiting their lowerclassmen.

“I’m glad I’m getting out of here,” said 28-year-old political science graduate Troy Wigestrand, voicing the sentiment of many in his class.

Ronald Hughes, chairman of the sociology department, said undergraduates are hurrying down the path to graduation by taking as many classes as possible.

One reason is that they don’t want to pay the higher tuition, he said. Another is that in the current recessionary economy they want to get a start on searching for jobs.

“People close to graduation are trying to finish sooner and some are having trouble getting the classes they need to graduate on time because the school is not offering as many sections in various classes,” said Jacki Wray, 29, of Los Alamitos, who received a master’s degree in sociology.

Wray said she believes that the financial squeeze may require students to compete for limited spaces at the school and in the long run that could improve the quality of students and education.

“It could make a diploma more prestigious, and that is a good thing,” she said.

But most of the students and faculty were less philosophical about their losses.

“The mood is rather grim,” said Samuel Cartledge, a professor of French and an instructor in a program that prepares teachers to teach English as a second language.

Cartledge said he had been told that four professors taking sabbatical leaves next fall will not be replaced.

Cartledge also lamented that financial belt-tightening throughout the academic world is hurting students who are graduating with special advanced degrees in teaching ESL.

He said such graduates are often unable to find full-time jobs because community colleges are hiring on a part-time basis to avoid paying medical and other benefits that must be provided to full-time employees.

“I have gotten three rejection letters from community colleges,” Sheila Searing, 53, of Yorba Linda, told Cartledge at a party that her class was holding before the graduation ceremony.

She said if she is unable to find full-time employment with her master’s degree in ESL, she will continue holding down several part-time teaching jobs--as she has for the past 10 years.