Sometimes I feel like there’s a lot of talk on this campus, but little

action.

Students and faculty complain about all kinds of things. But few

people look to take any kind of action.

For example, tenure decisions and salary increases are constant

discussion among faculty.

They may complain or brag about how much they get paid; but

when the final decisions are made, professors sit back and accept

them, without a second thought.

I look to my professors to be leaders on this campus, and it’s time

they take some action.

Due to the budget cuts, the average salary increase for faculty will

be around 3.5 percent for Iowa State and the University of Iowa.

So while ISU professors are accepting this small raise, University

of Northern Iowa faculty will be receiving a negotiated 5.6 percent

increase.

Why are UNI professors getting a larger increase? The reason is

simple.

UNI faculty, like other educators around the country, belong to a

union.

UNI’s faculty union was formed in 1976 when professors were in

disagreement with administrators over several issues, including

tenure.

This same disagreement comes and goes right here on our

campus.

The UNI union protects professors from mass layoffs and limits

the number of part-time instructors.

The quality of education and number of part-time educators is

often debated on this campus also.

For professors, having a union on campus doesn’t necessarily

mean we’ll have higher wages.

UNI professors are on average paid less than professors at Iowa

State.

A union represents security and help in times of need. Today, the

time of budget cuts, is when a union is most needed most to

protect jobs.

Professors need some type of representation. Right now all they

have is the Faculty Senate.

According the faculty handbook, the purpose of the Faculty Senate

is to facilitate communication between the faculty and the

administration and cooperate with the administration in conflict

resolution.

A current conflict may be the small raise increase. An ongoing

conflict is the balance between research and education when

deciding tenure.

With a union system, these conflicts and many others could be

resolved.

The Faculty Senate does have a purpose; we need it in some

form.

At the University of Northern Iowa, there is a union and a faculty

senate.

The professors at that university have the best of both worlds.

There is no reason why Iowa State can’t have a similar situation.

Unions are found in all kinds of work places, so why not at our

university?

I’m encouraging the professors of Iowa State to explore some

options for a union. Maybe it won’t happen this year, but it could

happen in the near future.

I want ISU professors to unite for the future of a union.

They should stop talking about the problems and start taking

action.

Michelle Kann is a senior in journalism and mass

communication from Garnavillo. She is the editor in chief of the

Daily.