http://www.easternecho.com Adjunct lecturers and students joined together once again in an attempt to send a message to the administration at Eastern Michigan University. en-us Gryphon 2.3.1-dsw (pewabic)/Foundry5 Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:54:12 -0400 webmaster@easternecho.com http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/783 I remember EMU profs bragging about how the 60’s radicals (them) are now running the show (EMU). My, how things have changed for them—and for the worse. Looks like their liberal stances on affirmative action and especially immigration have backfired in the worst possible way. I’d bet the farm that these (mostly) American professors would have nothing to protest if their jobs had never been given to foreigners and/or under-qualified faculty. I say TS. They made their bed, now it’s time to sleep in it. Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:17:32 -0400 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/783 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/784 I wonder how the “40 percent” number compares to other universities. I also wonder how this will affect students academically and financially. Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:18:11 -0400 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/784 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/785 This is great! Good work. Today at UM the lecturers are having a solidarity rally, too! And in public services we’re fighting privatization (AA public school bus drivers and custodians). Today, unionization. Tomorrow, nationalization of industry. Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:08:18 -0400 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/785 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/795 There is no better time for the actions of the ALOC/EMUFT; as no time is a bad time for unions. Collectively the work that you all are doing is probably some of the most important work happening on campus at EMU. As a member, an adjunct lecturer, a PhD student, and an Ypsilanti resident I am proud to be in solidarity with all my sisters and brothers on foot making a difference. The commitment to good education goes far beyond the Neo-liberal influence to wage war on solidarity. EMU can, in fact, be a place where “Education First” is a priority and not rhetoric for a rising corporate agenda. We will not let profit driven power usurp rights to dignity and our collective contribution to the responsibility we all share in reclaiming education as a line to a strong social state! Those impacted by decisions have a democratic right to participation in the decisions being made and when people have been marginalized from that process democracy suffers and thus with it freedom. So despite these dark times for laborers in our community, the collective strength grows stronger with each action. Franklin D. Roosevelt, reminded congress in 1935 “The rights of employees freely to organize for the purpose of collective bargaining should be fully protected.” And then later in 1940 stated, “It is one of the characteristics of a free and democratic modern nation that it has free and independent labor unions.” So when Kassey David, in the Eastern Echo, describes the actions of this past week as “…people from all avenues in the university coming together and acting as a community to make the establishment a better place for everyone.” I am reminded not only of how important unions are; but of the wisdom of Cesar Chavez, “The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.” In this case the fight is about democracy and the rights of students to have the best education we can offer! It is always about the people! Thank you sisters and brothers in solidarity. Every action you take is one step closer to putting “Education First” I appreciate you all. Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:41:16 -0400 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/795 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/797 Those struggling for the right to organize and be heard in their labor demands at EMU have my full support and solidarity. What appears a campus issue is of course a larger national or international struggle that is advancing on many fronts. Every worker on every campus has a vested interest in resisting the further reduction or outright removal of our labor rights. Every campus in which we are standing up to name this issue and work against the so-called privatization model of higher education deserves to be celebrated, championed, and organizationally supported. An injury to one is an injury to all! In solidarity… Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:21:13 -0400 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/797 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/798 I completed my Undergrad at Eastern a couple of years ago, and out of my memorable teachers there is a majority whom are lectures. I had the privilege of having Paul Horvath as a math teacher and I truly believe he embodies the “Education First” spirit. It is sad that there are many full time professors who horrible that get to float on by, while those who are actually good at what they do have to worry about adequate pay and health care. Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:54:12 -0400 http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/comment/view/798