COCAL Updates
By Joe Berry COCAL Updates (Chicago Coalition of Contingent Academic Labor) http://www.chicagococal.org/ 1. A nice little history of anti-Wall Street protests in US history and some useful suggestive lessons. 2. Recent grads turn to adjuncting. 3. The new Emmy award-winning documentary on the freedom riders of 1961 has many lessons for us, especially just now.…
The Fault of Academic Stars
“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”–Julius Caesar The star system is one of the worst afflictions to hit academia, and responsible for many of academia’s current problems. Frank Donogue wrote a recent blog on academic stars that got me thinking about the topic. Academia has…
Higher Education Round-Up
On my College Freedom blog is my essay responding to an earlier article by Peter Wood and Ashley Thorne of the NAS regarding Erskine College firing Bill Crenshaw. I also did a short interview with Bill Crenshaw. Joe Berry also has more COCAL Updates: 1. Santa Fe CC (NM) colleagues at Occupy demonstration [some great…
COCAL Updates
COCAL Updates
By Joe Berry Updates from COCAL (Chicago Coalition of Contingent Academic Labor). 1. New edition of the contingent faculty bibliography available. 2. Bob Samuels (Pres of U of CA -AFT Council of locals in Univ of CA, which represents all the NTT faculty at UC) reports on his visit to the White House 3. Interesting…
Campus Equity Week
Every two years, faculty and allies across the United States and Canada take part in Campus Equity Week, a week of events calling attention to the prevalence and working conditions of faculty in contingent appointments. This year’s Campus Equity Week will be held from October 24 to 30. (In Canada and some US states, it…
AAUP News
The AAUP announced Friday that an investigating committee will visit Louisiana November 12-15 to look into discontinuance of academic programs within the University of Louisiana system and resulting potential termination of tenured appointments. See the letter announcing the visit. See an earlier statement on reports that the university system had embarked on what appeared to be…
COCAL Updates
By Joe Berry Some updates from the Chicago Coalition of Contingent Academic Labor. Bowling Green U (Ohio) condemn admin role in crafting bill to outlaw outlaw collective bargaining. Eastern Michigan U contract for new adjuncts union (AFT) approved. Adjunct exploited at Plymouth State U (NH). Good article on massive healthcare strike in CA (biggest in…
COCAL Updates
By Joe Berry Here are some updates and links from the Chicago Coalition of Contingent Academic Labor. 1. Nice cartoon about Portland State bargaining 2. Good update article about organizing at St Xavier U in Chicago: Not In My Backyard: St. Xavier University Fights Union Organizing, By Tom Suhrbur, IEA Organizer 3. Update on bargaining…