UW System workers gather to preserve academic freedom

On September 19, faculty, academic staff, and graduate students from across the UW System gathered in Milwaukee to participate in the Higher Education Workers Summit, sponsored jointly by AFT-Wisconsin and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).  The meeting, organized by members of AFT-Wisconsin’s Higher Education Council along with colleagues from the AAUP, brought together members from eight UW System institutions to plan a collective, statewide defense of educational quality and academic freedom in the UW System.  AFT Executive Vice President Mary Cathryn Ricker urged participants to organize in their workplaces and their communities over these issues, not only for Wisconsin, but for other states that will face similar battles.  “This meeting could provide inspiration to unions around the country,” she told attendees.

Over the course of the day, participants discussed looming changes to tenure policy and academic freedom, including how they might—or might not—comply with national AAUP standards, and planned a coordinated series of events on the importance of academic freedom, higher education funding, and the casualization of the academic workforce.  Richard Leson, a UW-Milwaukee faculty member and president of AFT local 3535, The Association of University of Wisconsin Professionals (TAUWP), left the meeting with a feeling of optimism.  “The summit demonstrated the considerable analytical and strategic strengths of our combined organizations and what we can begin to accomplish if we stand together against the assaults on academic freedom and shared governance in Wisconsin,” he said afterwards.

Many participants noted, both during the summit and after, that such a meeting was greatly needed, coming as it did during a years-long sustained assault on the UW System and on public higher education around the country.  “It's easy to feel isolated on our campuses and as individuals and, therefore, to feel helpless,” said Rebecca Stephens, a faculty member of the UW-Stevens Point Academic Representation Council, AFT local 6505.  “Coming together at the summit was a great reminder that the antidote to isolation is collaboration and of the potential power of a collective voice.”  On a similar note, Richard added, “I found it empowering and heartening to meet with concerned and dedicated colleagues from across the state, many of whom drink beer.”