Once I achieved tenure, I recognized its real value. Tenure is not a gold star. Tenure exists to protect freedom in research and teaching. Freedom that is essential to the public good higher education provides: the creation and sharing of knowledge.
Now, tenure and academic freedom are under threat across the country. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Iowa. Ohio. In an uncertain legislative context, collective bargaining rights are a bulwark against threats to tenure and academic freedom.
Miami faculty could have had that protection already. But for months now, Miami administration has been blocking our chance to vote together on forming a collective bargaining unit.
The FAM supporters here today — faculty and librarians — are from all colleges, categories, and divisions. They stand united here with their students, facing you, the ultimate decision-makers in their workplace. That’s brave! That’s worthy of respect.
Today, you are showing respect for my tenacious and brilliant colleagues by awarding them tenure and promotion.
Will you also respect their determination, as a united supermajority of faculty, to vote together as one?
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