Faculty Union
ACT-UAW Statement Regarding the April 10, 2009 Student Occupation of the New School
• The part-time faculty union, ACT-UAW Local 7902 of the New School and NYU, issued this statement at 5:55pm April 10, 2009:
The part-time faculty union, ACT-UAW Local 7902 of the New School and NYU, is gravely concerned with the Kerrey administration’s harsh response to the New School students who recently occupied 65 Fifth Avenue, including a massive show of police force.
President Kerrey’s statement about the protest focused only on allegations of student misconduct, ignoring the serious issues raised by the protesters.
We call on the administration to immediately revoke the suspensions of students pending a full investigation of all allegations.
The question should be asked why student dissatisfaction with the administration needs to be expressed in the occupation of a university building. In our view, this protest is symptomatic of the administration’s failure to foster a healthy and democratic educational community at the New School.
About the faculty union
ACT-UAW (UAW Local 7902) represents over 4,000 part-time and adjunct teachers. It consists of two units: one for teachers at NYU, and another for those at The New School. It was founded in 2002 after several years of organizing efforts, and elected its first Executive Officers in 2005.
Who is ACT-UAW?
If you teach at NYU or The New School and are a union member, you are ACT-UAW. Your local is staffed by faculty, and governed by your fellow union faculty members. Day-to-day operational and policy decisions are made by two bodies of elected members: the Joint Council and the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee reports to the Joint Council, which in turn reports to you and to your fellow union members.
Several other standing committees are staffed by volunteer members: the Membership Committee activates current and potential members; the Education Committee keeps members and the university communities informed; the Election Committee holds the Local’s fair and independent elections; and the Political Action Committee builds alliances with politicians at city, state and national levels.
More information at http://www.actuaw.org/