As the contract negotiations between the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the faculty union hit an impasse, faculty at 14 Pennsylvania state universities went on strike Wednesday morning, affecting more than 100,000 students.

According to the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, its members went on strike at 5 a.m. since no agreement could be reached. The union represents more than 5,000 faculty and coaches across the state, and a walkout would likely halt classes mid-semester.

APSCUF President Kenneth M. Mash said in a statement, that, "We are headed to the picket lines, but even on the picket lines, our phones will be on, should the State System decide it doesn't want to abandon its students."

State System spokesman Kenn Marshall said that, Democratic Governor Tom Wolf had urged both sides to reach an agreement overnight. "He was very clear about that. He personally spoke to both sides and urged us to settle this. I find it shocking that Chancellor Frank Brogan would spit in the governor's eye like that. Through all of this, the governor has been a strong advocate for the students."

"We'd like to reassure our students that we did everything we possibly could to avoid a strike," APSCUF Vice President Jamie Martin said. "We will be here should the State System decide not to abandon its students."

"By removing many of the more contentious issues from the table, we have demonstrated our willingness to participate in the normal give-and-take of negotiations," State System spokesman Kenn Marshall said. "We believed it also would show APSCUF our eagerness to achieve a new contract. It is clear from their actions, however, that health care and salaries are the real issues in these negotiations."

"These are difficult times for our universities. If APSCUF won't agree to share more of the costs for their own health care like everyone else has it will threaten our ability to keep tuition affordable for students," Marshall said. "We have made significant progress since Friday, and were hopeful we could get to an agreement by now. It is unfortunate especially for our students that we have gotten to this point."

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- Nandini