Statements – Campus Faculty Association

Statement of Solidarity with those Fighting Racism and Police Violence

The Campus Faculty Association stands in solidarity with those all over the nation engaged in the struggle against racism and police violence. As educators we have a special responsibility to dismantle the systems of oppression that again and again deprive our African American brothers and sisters of their very right to live. We call onContinue reading “Statement of Solidarity with those Fighting Racism and Police Violence”

Stuart and Ed’s Excellent Adventure

By Jay Rosenstein This past spring, two U of I Trustees set out on a secret mission to solve the seemingly unsolvable Chief Illiniwek problem once and for all. And they did it. But I doubt they’re happy with the result. They hoped to return with Chief Illiniwek on a pedestal. Instead, they came backContinue reading “Stuart and Ed’s Excellent Adventure”

Frederick Hoxie

FREDERICK HOXIE Swanlund Professor of History and Law I have loved academic life since I entered graduate school more than forty years ago. Over the ensuing decades I have been grateful for the intellectual freedom that has been crucial for my research and appreciative of the enormous privilege I enjoy participating in university life andContinue reading “Frederick Hoxie”

Sundiata Cha-Jua

SUNDIATA CHA-JUA Associate Professor, History and African American Studies I support collective bargaining for three reasons. First, it is the only process by which working people, whether physical or mental laborers, have been able to receive a reasonable portion of what they deserve. Second, historically the best years for African Americans in this country cameContinue reading “Sundiata Cha-Jua”

Antoinette Burton

ANTOINETTE BURTON Professor, History; Catherine C. and Bruce A. Bastian Professor of Global and Transnational Studies I support the union not only to protect the principles and practices of shared governance but to meet the challenges of higher education in the twenty-first century with a collective faculty voice and a commitment to the common goodContinue reading “Antoinette Burton”

Atoma Batoma

ATOMA BATOMA Associate Professor, Library When universities are run according to a corporate model, the quality of education suffers and intellectual freedom, as well as the freedom of speech, is jeopardized. Faculty unions, insofar as they seek to construct and support a model of shared governance, protect the university from the long-term damage caused byContinue reading “Atoma Batoma”

Teresa Barnes

TERESA BARNES Associate Professor, History and Gender and Women’s Studies Our faculty need a union because only through collective bargaining can we ensure job security and have a say in the educational agenda of our university. Without a union we are left to negotiate as isolated individuals and become the mere recipients of top-down decisionsContinue reading “Teresa Barnes”

Lisa Rosenthal

LISA ROSENTHALAssociate Professor, Art History A union will help make the university a better workplace for faculty, will provide a stronger and more effective institution for our students, and will protect the values of public education in Illinois.

Roderick Wilson

RODERICK WILSON Assistant Professor, History A faculty union on this campus would represent us in the statewide effort needed to protect our current salaries and benefits. It would also give us more influence in the administration of our university and in helping it achieve its core research and educational goals. Because our individual voices andContinue reading “Roderick Wilson”

Dara Goldman

DARA GOLDMAN Associate Professor, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese The CFA is an absolutely essential tool in ensuring that faculty have a clear and effective voice in the development of the University of Illinois as an institution of higher learning. A union contract will allow us to have a collective and democratic voice, not only toContinue reading “Dara Goldman”

Russell Giannetta

RUSSELL GIANNETTA Professor, Physics We must play a larger role in the decision-making process on campus. The administration, no doubt acting in good will, is sometimes forced into positions at odds with those of the faculty, and many major decisions have been made without our input. The faculty should be involved in selecting the topContinue reading “Russell Giannetta”

Frederick Davidson

FREDERICK DAVIDSON Professor, Linguistics We need a faculty union to spark and maintain a dialogue that is long overdue about a critical issue: our priorities. Our campus should focus not only on who we want to become but also on who we are, how we got that way, and how our current situation hinders ourContinue reading “Frederick Davidson”