The end of the month and the stretch before the end of the semester is coming around. The one thing being discussed in all of my classes currently is whether or not my professors will be participating in the strike.

My professors are on board and are fine with a strike if it means getting something they have been working towards for years now. A lot of students see this as an opportunity to not attend classes.

This could be a plus until we realize what it means for us and how we need to take this moment seriously. The reason for the strike is a money issue.

I have professors who have been in school for years and are studying to become an expert in the field that they teach. They should be properly compensated for their accomplishments and the fact that they come and teach us everyday.

The fact that teachers and professors of all kinds and for all subjects are not being paid what they should be is almost a slap in the face. Our educators teach us so that we can go on and be successful.

They are essential to our generation and future ones furthering their knowledge. We go to school from the time we are five years old and some of us continue until we are in our late twenties.

We need educators to guide us through each year of school and to teach us the things that we need to know. So why is it that we are treating our educators horribly and paying them terribly and expecting them to want to stay in this profession?

It does not make sense. Our educators are at the forefront of the most important professions in this day and age.

While I do not want a strike to occur, and while these matters should not have even gotten this far, I have no problem with classes not being held in order to get our professors the pay and treatment that they rightfully deserve.

It is not a riot, it is not violent outrage, it is a protest in order to get the rightful treatment that our educators deserve.

I support our professors during this time and with the possibility of a strike looming among the Eastern community, I stand with our faculty.

Kyla Moton is a junior English/creative writing major. She can be reached at klmoton@eiu.edu or 217-581-2812.