By James Osborne, Inquirer Staff Writer

Faculty from across New Jersey’s state college campuses protested Wednesday as tensions with Gov. Christie continue to grow over proposals to freeze professors’ pay and cut benefits.

Rowan rally — Carrying a symbolic coffin — “the death of education” — members of Rowan University‚ American Federation of Teachers march on campus April 25, 2012 in protest of what they say are delayed contract negotiations. Faculty have been working without a contract since June 30. (TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer)

Christie has called for four-year salary freezes and an end to perks such as guaranteed sabbaticals, a staple of academic life, at the state’s nine nonresearch universities, which do not include Rutgers or the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, according to faculty union officials who have been involved in contract talks.

“We’ve been negotiating for a little over a year, and we’ve made very little progress,” said Steve Young, executive president of the Council of New Jersey State College Locals, which represents more than 8,700 faculty and staff. “The cuts they’re proposing are unprecedented.”

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