‘Reefer Madness’
Construction updates 2010
The College’s latest play was smokin.’
The Art and IMM building may open and a local library finds a new home on the College campus.
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See News, page 3
tcnjsignal.net
The College of New Jersey Student Newspaper since 1885
December 2, 2009
No. 13.
Vol. CXXXI.
Unions question equality of new savings plans
By Diana Bubser Opinions Editor and Matt Huston Nation & World Editor
Union leadership at the College disagrees with administrators who say that union members are getting equal treatment under new salary pool reductions Ralph Edelbach, associate professor of technological studies and president of the College chapter of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), said a difference in furlough days sends the wrong message to union members. Union-affiliated faculty and staff will be required to take up to six more unpaid days off than non-union managers and administrators. “That seems to be saying that managers are more important than the rest of us,” Edelbach said. “It would have been better in my view, and that of many other union leaders, to have exactly the same salary-reduction plan implemented for everyone.” Breaking with an exemption from past years, New Jersey has required that state colleges and universities make personnel-related cost cuts equivalent to those made by the state furlough plan. At the College and most other state schools, the savings plans for union members, negotiated with the state by the Communication Workers Association (CWA), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) and AFT, the three main representatives for college workers, differ from plans implemented for non-union employees.
“The salary savings that New Jersey negotiated with its unions, including the state colleges and universities … are the result of the unprecedented downturn in the nationʼs economy,” E.J. Miranda, director of public relations at Rutgers University, said. Faculty, librarians, and professional staff at the College and other schools affiliated with AFT will take delayed salary increases and seven unpaid furlough days, but will get three of those days back as future paid leave days, according to Karen Siefring, president of the Rowan University chapter of AFT. Clerical, maintenance, and facilities staff and other employees represented by CWA and IFPTE will take salary increase delays and 10 furlough days, recouping seven of those as paid leave days. At the College, non-union managers and administrators will be required to take just one furlough day, but they also face a one percent pay cut, a stop on salary increases and reduced retirement contributions. The state required that the College realize the same savings from each employee group. Both union and non-union adjustments were calculated to reduce expenditures by five percent of the respective salary pools, and College officials say the non-union plan is proportional to the one negotiated by the unions. But Edelbach expressed disappointment with both savings plans. He said the furlough days will have a significant impact on teachers, who will not be allowed to miss any classes. Instead, the furlough
AP Photos
CUB ready to bring Max, HelloGoodbye accepts bid After much controversy and two sets of votes, the College Union Board (CUB) will bid this week for Tucker Max to come to the College. Max won the entertainment repoll distributed last week, claiming 44 percent of the 1902 student votes. Duff Goldman of the Food Network reality show, “Ace of Cakes,” came in second with 26 percent of the vote, according to Raquel Fleig, CUB director. If Max accepts the bid, tickets will go on sale sale Jan. 18. Musical acts HelloGoodbye and Ace Enders will come to play at the College after the semester break. The concert will be held during the studentsʼ first weekend back.
see UNIONS page 2
International Education Week brings students around the world
By Caitlyn Camacho Staff Writer
exchanging global education. This is an effort of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote programs that can prepare Students experienced the worldʼs cultures with- Americans for an international environment. The events held at the College involved out ever leaving the College Tuesday Nov. 17 through Friday Nov. 20 , which marked presentations by professors and stuInternational Education Week. dents regarding counterinsurgency Various activities offered throughin culture, a solidarity project by out the week focused on international Women In Leadership and Learning dedication and awareness. (W.I.L.L.), a study abroad fair, stuThe week was put together by dent cultural music performances Regina Morin, modern languages and reading of Chinese poetry. 2009 department chair, who was content Morin knew that students could with the variety of events on campus benefit from this week long event. presented to the students. “First, some events like the pre“We reached out to many departments sentation on counterinsurgency in Brianna Gunter / News Editor and programs on campus, so it wasnʼt just Afghanistan help expose the students a modern languages week of events. For to various points of view on national example, our faculty panel had invited speakers from and international issues — the conflict in Afghanistan English, classical studies and history, in addition to is both. modern languages,” Morin said. Events like the presentation of Chinese poetry and According to Morin, International Education Week calligraphy give students the chance to experience provides a time to commemorate the benefits of facets of a culture they may not be familiar with.
Other events, like the student and faculty panels on study abroad, provide practical suggestions for successful study abroad experiences,” she said. Jessica Baker, sophomore english major, said she enjoyed the study abroad panels the most because she wants to study abroad in Italy. Baker said she liked hearing what the foreign students studying in the U.S. at the College had to say, as well as the the College students who had already studied abroad. Thursday night was a musical night for all students in the basement of the library. Those who attended these musical performances by students got to listen to a variety of cultural music and other performances such as classical guitar and opera singing. “Some events, like the student performances have a cultural component, but they are also just plain fun,” Morin said. Angelica Garcia, sophmore international business major, liked the idea of International Education Week as an international business major. “(It was) helpful in getting to know other cultures and getting a brief view of what other cultures do,” she said.
The world in pictures Students to unleash artistic talents Library showcases photos SFB agreed to fund a campus mural project from around the world. that will invite all students to participate.
Lions go for the gold Women’s soccer will go to national semifinals.
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