The AAUP "Redbook"
SB 5 / ISSUE 2
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
--Margaret Mead
UA ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO GROW
The University of Akron announced Thursday another newly created Vice-Presidential position: Vice President for Strategic Engagement. If approved at the May 1st meeting of the Board of Trustrees, the position will be filled by former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, at a starting base salary of $200,000.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer says "Tressel will be a vice president of the university, in charge of fundraising and "strategic engagement"...unless the university trustees say no. Which is exactly what they should say. "
In other, related, news, the university's colleges and departmental units have been forced to accept reductions in operating budgets in the hundreds of thousands of dollars; tenure-track faculty positions remain unfilled; and the number of Vice-Presidents hired to manage the affairs of the United States of America remains at one.
Perhaps it's time to update this informational piece from the time of our last contract negotiations.
Clarification: Right to Work?
There are political attempts underway to have Ohio made into a "Right to Work" (sic) state. We feel this should be clarified.
If successful, these attempts will render Ohio a "Right to Work FOR LESS" state. See here and here for more information.
We recommend that you oppose these measures as directly, and publicly, and as loudly, as you can, as often and wherever you can.
January 2012 newsletter
Call for nominations: Chapter Secretary and Treasurer; Employee Rights Take 2--More anti-union legislation; Negotiations at BGSU; Around the country; Update on pay raises.
Read these items HERE.
Spring 2012 Executive Committee Elections
The chapter is soliciting nominations for the upcoming April election of the
Akron AAUP Chapter Secretary and Treasurer. Each officer is a voting member of the
Akron AAUP Executive Committee. The term of office for these two positions will be
two years. You may nominate yourself or someone else for either position. Only
FULL DUES-PAYING chapter members are allowed to hold office or participate in chapter elections. If you
are not currently a Chapter member, this is an excellent time to download and send the
Chapter Membership Form to
our current Treasurer, Richard Elliott, as indicated on the form.
Many of the "old guard" among our leadership team will soon be retiring or stepping away from AAUP responsibilities. It is time for new blood and new leadership. The work of Akron-AAUP is ongoing, and includes protecting your contractual rights as well as securing those same rights and responsibilities for future colleagues. It is important work for individual faculty members, and also for our collective professional experience.
We encourage you to become involved in this engaging and rewarding work.
Nominations for Secretary and Treasurer are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 23rd,
2012. If you would like to nominate someone, please send your nomination to:
Jennifer Holz (Past President, Chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee)
at jh16@uakron.edu or drjenniferholz@yahoo.com, or phone 330-972-8790.
The election will be held in early April, 2012, after nominations have closed. All active Akron AAUP chapter members will be receiving an electronic ballot for these two important leadership positions.
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SB 5 is Repealed
From the Ohio Conference of the AAUP
From the AAUP national office
But Don't Think For A Moment That It's Over!
"House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, already has said lawmakers will try to resurrect some parts of the bill next year."
From a story in the Beacon Journal online
We suggest that you write to your State Representatives and Senators recommending that they not participate in such actions.
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"It is evident that
any restriction on academic freedom acts in such a way as to hamper the
dissemination of knowledge among the people and thereby impedes national
judgment and action."
- Albert Einstein, Member of AAUP
"...truth is more likely to emerge through the interplay
and conflict of ideas resulting from the exercise of individual reason
than through the imposition of uniform and standardized opinion by
authority."
A.O. Lovejoy, Co-founder AAUP
"To investigate truth; critically verify fact; to reach conclusions by means of the best methods at command, untrammeled by external fear or favor, to communicate this truth to the student: this is precisely the aim and object of the university. To aim a blow at any one of these operations is to deal a vital wound to the university itself"
John Dewey, Co-founder AAUP