Hi Folks, semi-regular poster here under a pseudonym.
You may be aware that the Central Michigan University Faculty Association declared a work stoppage, and was subsequently ordered back to work by a judge. Putting aside debates about unions and politics for the time being, I, as a CMU faculty, would like to share the following with you:
1. The language of the injunction--written by university lawyers-- compares our picketing to Hurricane Katrina in terms of "disruptive force," and its impact on higher education. This language trivializes the loss of life and property caused by the storm (you know, 1800+ deaths, millions of acres flooded). This comparison is especially egregious with the 6th anniversary of the storm in 2 days. CMU's president was formerly the CEO of a university in Mississippi that is near the post-landfall track of Katrina;
2. CMU students were physically barred from the library by campus police during the President's press conference--on the first day of classes. The conference was on the 3rd floor stacks. Some students who were in the building were permitted to stay;
3. In his press conference, and addressing students, the president referred to the contractual dispute as a problem "between us grown-ups." Students are pretty upset by this remark. The president also visibly lost his temper and his composure as a result of students chuckling at some of his remarks. He concluded his press conference by *ordering* students to attend class.
I invite you to view the press conference video, available via the local newspaper website,
http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2011/08/23/news/doc4e52a1dd55125970715647.txtDisgusted? Upset? Outraged?
It would be great if a CHE staff reported followed up on this.
More information is available at
http://cmufaccc.org/ Kind regards.
