As Ohio University students, we want to congratulate the faculty for making the bold move to consider unionization as a means of bringing our university closer to the realization of shared governance. For too long faculty on this campus have not been treated with the respect they deserve, and as students, we want to see this change before we lose the people who are shaping our futures. It has been exciting to see our faculty take the leadership in pushing for real change on this campus. As the dialogue on this important topic develops, there are a few things we hope the faculty will take into consideration.
Forming a union can be used for more than just gaining a new salary and benefits contract; unions can act as a tool for social and political transformation. With this being an election year, we have heard a lot of talk about change from both candidates. We believe these candidates are tapping into a deep-seeded American desire to steer our country in a different direction. This direction includes a more democratic and inclusive society that takes everyone into account.
There is a real connection between change on the national level and what is going on in our community. The administration and the Board of Trustees have shown time and time again that they view themselves as unchallenged dictators over the campus hierarchy. Profit, corporate governance and excesses in administrative bureaucracies have been the dominant politics on this campus for too long. If everyone is really serious about seeing the end of this abuse, then social democracy needs to be discussed as a viable alternative. We live in one of the most advanced civilizations human history has ever seen and to say that social democracy could not function on this campus (as the Board of Trustees and administration often imply) is insulting to the intellect, creativity and passion that faculty, staff and students show every day. The only thing that is actually unrealistic, as the faculty's discussion of unionization has shown, is maintaining the corporate status quo.
We are excited to see how things develop further and hope that the faculty will continue to reach out to students and staff as equal partners in the struggle for shared governance on campus.
Mason Korb, Mary Forfia, Austin Bugher, Jacob Braden, Chris Dodd, Eric Osbourne, Trent Rissover, Anthony Fantozzi, Maria Farinacci, Sam Proctor, Greg Mercer, Molly Shea, William Sandoval, Jessica Beardsley, Michelle Tarian, Kate Leugers, Eric Miller, Tod Dendle, Max Bundy, Emily Maiorana, Alanna Shaw, Loren Cellentani, Megan Denti, Katherine Fox, Adam Schisler, AJ Hitmer, Christopher Lute, Levi Halter, Dolores Harrison, Teresa Leister, Bobb Hatton, Alisha Bicknell, Will Klatt, Micah Knabb and Andrea Otto signed this letter.
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Letter to the Editor
