In an effort to give campus professors a stronger influence in administrative decisions, journalism professor Joe Bernt and his colleagues are banning together to reinstate the American Association of University Professors, an organization that focuses primarily on the advancement of academic freedom among university faculty.
The organization has lain dormant for nearly 15 years but has the potential to be rewarding for Ohio University's faculty once it is brought back to life, Bernt said.
During Glidden's administration
the faculty wasn't included in many of the policy decisions that affected our jobs directly he said. We're hoping to change all that with revitalizing the AUP.
The AUP is a national organization. Its goal is not only collective bargaining in terms of salaries and health benefits, but also becoming a proactive voice for the entire faculty.
History professor Kevin Mattson has been at OU for four years but has been with the AUP much longer. When he came to campus and saw the organization's dormancy, he felt something was missing.
I believe it's time to reinvigorate the organization Mattson said. Although there is the faculty senate that represents us
they are too tied to the administration. There also needs to be an independent voice to articulate faculty concerns.
Mattson predicts the association's first order of business will be to prevent the proposed changes to faculty health care that will degrade the benefits package faculty currently receives.
Having this organization on campus can help faculty effectively challenge administrative decisions
Mattson said.
Political science professor John Gilliom intends to be actively involved in getting the organization reinvigorated.
He feels that the faculty is going to need a strong voice this year because of the many challenges that will face the new administration.
There are so many pressures facing the faculty this year concerning administrative priorities
budget cuts
health care
etc. These challenges create a context for which faculty need to be organized
Gilliom said.
I think that the AUP provides faculty a framework and the resources so that we can do the best we can to getting voice to our concerns
he added.
Mattson said he and his colleagues are contacting current members on campus so that they can hold a meeting at the end of September to discuss the future and the issues of the organization.
