[The following article is for background information and pre-dated the Press Release.]
STUDENTS
STIRRED ABOUT STRIKE
Students just aren’t sure if it matters.
Although the risk of several courses being cancelled could mean less homework
for a good chunk of Acadia students, not all are too thrilled by the idea. From
frosh to fourth year, the idea of Acadia’s part-time faculty getting ready for
a strike has received a mixed reaction.
Jeff
Britton, the Student Union’s VP Academic, has yet to field any concerns from
students about any of their professors going on strike. “I’m really surprised,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve gotten a single phone
call from any worried students.”
Like many
students, though, Britton and the Acadia Students’ Union were still waiting for
more information on the progress of the Acadia University Faculty Association’s
negotiations with university Administration. Since a strike has not been called
just yet, they were not overly anxious.
When informed that the possibility of a strike came a step closer with
the unanimous rejection of the administration’s latest proposal, students were
not reluctant to state their
displeasure.
Caroline
Skelton, the Editor-In-Chief of the Athenaeum, and a graduating fourth
year English student, is apprehensive about the impact of a strike on her
studies. “I’ve got two classes taught by part-timers, and I don’t know how that
will affect my ability to graduate. It’s definitely a concern to me, and I’m
sure to other graduating students as well.”
Other students wonder if a strike would be
worth anybody’s while. While part-time professors are good to have around, many
of them seem to be recently out of university, and some do not even have
anything more than a bachelor’s degree. According to Mike Ball, an Economics
Major working on his second degree, “Lots of the part-time profs are just
teaching what the other profs are too lazy or just plain don’t want to teach.
For the most part, they’re here to get their foot in the door; and it’s
questionable whether it’s in their best interest to stir up much of a ruckus.”
Kyran Turnquest, notable as a student leader on campus, questions
what the point would be and adds, “We don’t see enough of these profs outside
of class time. They only come to do their lecture and then leave. Students
don’t really feel their presence; they are not involved with students outside
of classes, or with any campus activities. It’s hard to say if that many
students would actually notice their absence.”
Noticeable
or not, the fact that Acadia has the highest tuition in the country has other
students angry that they might not be getting what they are paying for.
“I don't feel
any staff should go on strike! I'm paying the highest tuition in the country to
get a good education and it will be altered if the staff walks out” said Martha
Dillman, a second year music major.
Students
are also supportive of any faculty’s right to strike. Julie Grandy,
another potential grad sympathized, “They work hard, and if they’re not getting
what they deserve, they should do what they need to do to get it. They already
get paid pretty poorly.”
Third
year student Maresa Moyles
found that most of her enjoyable experiences with profs have been with part
time faculty. She recounted a professor she had in her first year as “the best prof ever.”
“I never had another prof
that even compared to her and I doubt I ever will… I wanted to take another
class from her, but she was a part timer and for some reason (having to do with
her salary) wasn’t teaching anymore classes since she only does one or two a
semester ‘cause she gets such low pay,” added Moyles.
Gabby Kalaw