Good afternoon Faculty Alliance of Miami!
Before I start I want to thank both Cathy Wagner and Dylan Halpin for all the work I’ve seen the both of you do for FAM. My name is Patrick Houlihan, and I am the president of the College Democrats of Ohio. But more importantly than that, I am a proud student of Miami University.
I have spent the last three years fighting for students, their quality of education, their quality of life, the reach of their voices, and the power of their vote.
“Miami faculty deserves respect and fair compensation. If they are taken care of by Miami, they will take care of their students.”
—Student Patrick Houlihan
I have been around since the beginning of FAM. I was on one of many of Cathy Wagner’s stops to engage the student body.
College Democrats watched as the administration split the bargaining unit, and spent millions trying to block FAM. We celebrated as FAM decisively won their vote. And I have offered my support as they have moved through negotiations.
Supporting unions is a core value of the Democratic Party. In a world where employers have all the power, unions right the ship.
Today, we find negotiations stalled. This is unacceptable.
The cost of living across the country is on the rise. Housing costs have been skyrocketing. And COVID cost our faculty a lot.
As a university, Miami should attempt to provide the best education possible to their students, and as a student, we deserve the best education we can get. We as students cannot get the best education when faculty are worried about their financial security. We need faculty to succeed for students to succeed.
Higher education has been under attack by Columbus politicians with the introduction of legislation like SB 83. We as students cannot get that best education when professors are worried about getting fired for teaching history or covering controversial topics. Faculty should not have to worry about some politician in Columbus getting triggered over the truth of our nation’s history. Free and fair expression is a hallmark of our country and should be in our education system.
Miami faculty deserves respect and fair compensation. If they are taken care of by Miami, they will take care of their students. They will be better able to provide that best education that both Miami and students are looking for and deserve.
It’s time for Miami’s administration to shift focus. Give FAM their contract. Give them the raises they deserve. Take care of the people that make Miami the place it is.
People travel the globe to learn here, we have one of the best business schools in the country, and one of the best leadership cultures of the state, and dare I say the country.
This cannot and will not continue if we do not love & honor our faculty. Give FAM their contract,
Thank you.
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