Administration needs to settle faculty contract dispute

Starting in early 1994, I worked for my first-ever newspaper, The Northern Student, the student newspaper at Bemidji State University, where I attended and received my bachelor's degree in mass communication. Over three years, I would be a staff writer, news editor, managing editor and editor. I wrote everything from news stories to feature stories to sports stories to opinion pieces. It was the greatest training ground a journalist could ever have, and I am grateful to the many talented people I worked alongside in my years at The NS.

April 10, 1996

NOTE: This column was published on the newspaper's opinion page.

By Devlyn Brooks

By now, you've all heard. The state university system's faculty have reached an impasse in their negotiations about the faculty's contracts.

Although faculty are optimistic the impasse will not reach the level of a strike, it is still on all of our minds. It could happen; that's a fact we have to live with for a while.

It's scary, down-right frightening for some seniors. However, as students, it's time that we put our fears aside, look at the facts and when it is sorted out, support the faculty in whatever action they take.

These are the facts: First, the professors, statewide, have been working in good faith since June 30, 1995, when their last contract expired.

Second, the faculty have asked for a 3.5 percent raise, and the administration has offered a ridiculous 1 percent raise. In a sense, the faculty are faced with the question of how much they can afford to fall behind, not how much they will make off the new contract.

Third, the faculty opposes several of the items being lobbied for by the administration, such as the 20-year rule, also known as super-tenure, self governance of faculty and university committees and the financial package.

Fourth, in case the mediation meeting scheduled April 12 does not bring things to a close, the faculty have sought arbitration through a neutral third party, and as of yet, the administration has not agreed to arbitration.

Granted, it is more complex, but in simplicity, this is where we are left standing. The teachers have no contract, administration doesn't want to budge and students are left wondering.

But, what is important to remember now is that we can't criticize the faculty, or what they are suggesting. A strike is the last real card they have left to play, and the very last one they want to play. How can a university system operate without teachers? Simply put: it can't.

So, why does the administration continue to send the message that faculty aren't important? Not long ago, they settled contracts with the Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty and Council Six unions who asked for comparative salary increases. What is the problem here?

Are they seizing the momentum of the nationwide "higher education is not important" trend? Do they think that this will go unnoticed by people? Do they honestly feel that the faculty have not been doing their job? Do they feel that the faculty are being nitpicky?

Well, higher education is important, and it is about time students tell people so by supporting our faculty in their plight. Second, as students, we can't let this go unnoticed because that reinforces the idea that higher education is not important. Third, the faculty have been doing their job quite effectively and are quite underpaid already. Fourth, if the faculty aren't nitpicky about things such as super-tenure now, what goes next, regular tenure?

Maybe the worry is all for naught, and the contract will be settled. However, it is time we stick behind the faculty. They're not trying to put the screws to us. Seniors will graduate. Sure, it may be a week late, but the faculty will find a way. And the rest of us may seem some repercussions, but please look at the bigger issue here.

Chris Brown, faculty negotiator for BSU, said it best, "If we can just communicate, I think we can get this settled."

Listen up, administration, from the students to you, "Communicate!"