Home | Membership | People | Resources | News | CBA | Constitution & Bylaws | Student Award |
October 2002 aaUPBEATThe Union's Election IssueIntroductionAs we stated in last month's newsletter, the AAUP became the UD faculty's bargaining agent in 1972 when the faculty selected the AAUP over other unions to represent them. Over the years the union's activities on the faculty's behalf have entailed a range of tasks, including contract negotiations, defending faculty free speech rights, guaranteeing equality of treatment regardless of a faculty member's race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or belief system, and defining the University's educational mission by exploring the relationship of our teaching and research to the world around us, not just locally but nationally and globally. In order to do such things well, the AAUP must have officers who take the work of representing faculty seriously. That work isn't always exactly the same, since each era has its special concerns, but the work's basic thrust remains consistent: to protect faculty as they go about the business of teaching and research. Such officers of course don't come out of nowhere. They come from the membership's ranks and are elected by the membership. The AAUP's next election is in November. AAUP ElectionsOnce again it is election time in the union. To make voting as convenient as possible, ballots for the election of AAUP officers will be sent out to the Association's members on Nov. 7. The completed ballots must be back in the AAUP office by 12 noon on Monday, Nov. 18. Also please take note of the fact that on Monday, November 11 from noon until 1:30 p.m. there will be an open faculty meeting in the Ewing Room of the Perkins Student Center. At that time, AAUP members can meet the candidates and query them on issues you consider important to the union's goals, both long- and short-term. Candidates for AAUP Officer PositionsAll candidates for office were asked to provide the following information:
PresidentName: Linda Bucher. As a member of the AAUP for the past twelve years, I have gained valuable experience from the variety of positions I have held within the organization. My vision for the future of the AAUP includes greater faculty participation in the AAUP. Currently, slightly more than half of faculty are dues-paying members. This can be improved. AAUP needs the support of all faculty to present a strong and united front when addressing faculty issues. Equally important, I aim to strengthen the communication between the faculty and the union's leadership. For example, the current AAUP structure includes the steering committee and the departmental representatives. Communication to and from these groups can be improved. Should I be elected as the next president of the AAUP, I will work to achieve these goals. Name: James Raths. Vice PresidentName: Michael Zinn. TreasurerName: Sheldon D. Pollack I am a candidate for the position of Treasurer of the UD Chapter of the AAUP because I wish to become even more involved in faculty governance. I believe that I have strong credentials for the position, having previously served as treasurer and director of a small non-profit organization, as well as legal adviser to two educational institutions (Temple University and Temple University Hospital). While I believe that my experience as a business lawyer could be useful to the Executive Council and Steering Committee, I am most interested in working to advance the traditional values of the AAUP: protecting academic freedom and due process on campus, and defending the tenure system for faculty. I am familiar with the AAUP's policy documents and reports and strongly support the organization's positions on these important issues. In short, I am interested in serving as Treasurer of our chapter of the AAUP. It would be an honor and privilege to be selected by my colleagues here at the University of Delaware for this position. SecretaryName: Judy Van Name. I have been a member of the AAUP since its inception at the U of D in 1972. I have served as a Department representative, a Steering Committee member and a member of two Faculty Bargaining Teams, in 1977 and in 1998-1999. The latter resulted in the first three-year contract. I am familiar with workload and equity issues. While AAUP membership includes a majority of our faculty, I would like to see the membership in AAUP increase. I would also like to see a better turnout at open meetings of the AAUP since they help to clarify the issues. The AAUP through its Collective Bargaining Agreement provides definitive answers to questions faculty have about work related issues. During the past three decades the collective bargaining agreement has continued to be refined to clarify expectations of faculty and administrators. The very minimal number of grievances in recent years indicates that the collective bargaining agreement is working. I was pleased to be asked to be nominated as Secretary and to serve as a member of the Executive Council of the AAUP at the University of Delaware. Additional UD governance experience pertinent to my candidacy for Secretary but not related to my AAUP membership includes the following positions: President of the Faculty Senate (1999-2001); Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Faculty Senator (1998-2000); Chair, Coordinating Committee on Education (1998-2000); Member of the Academic Priorities Review Committee (1999-2003); Chairperson, Department of Textiles, Design and Consumer Economics 1978-1982). |