School needs to clarify its bikes in building policy soon
xx PAGE 30 Web-Exclusive Video
Zombies, skating, dancing in a ‘24-Hour Night’ The official news source of Columbia College Chicago
November 1, 2010
www.ColumbiaChronicle.com
Volume 46, Issue 9
Part-time faculty seeks new leadership
Some adjuncts unhappy with current union heads, strive for new leadership team by Drew Hunt
Assistant Campus Editor WHILE CONTRACT nego-
tiations between the college and the PartTime Faculty Association continue, an election will be held Nov. 19 to appoint new members to the association’s Steering Committee. According to Joseph Laiacona, part-time instructor in the Interactive Arts and Media Department and current vice president of P-Fac, what is normally an intelligible process has been met with contention as he and a group of adjunct faculty members feel the current negotiation team has done an inadequate job of spearheading negotiations with the college. The contract for part-time faculty expired on Aug. 31. Since then, the current negotiation team for P-Fac has bargained with the college in order to draft a new contract. Laiacona said he disapproves of how the negotiations have progressed. Each fall, an election is held in which P-Fac members cast votes for their peers they deem most capable to comprise
the Steering Committee. Those elected assume their positions the following spring. One of the tasks appointed to the Steering Committee is assembling the bargaining team, which is the group responsible for negotiating
appointing new members, he hopes the change in personnel will facilitate better communication within the union. “We’ve never had such a contentious election,” Laiacona said. “Some of us don’t believe the strategy the current team is using is helpful to the way our union ought to be run.”
active members of P-Fac. Despite this, in addition to a boost in morale, Laiacona said implementing different members on the Steering Committee will eventually lead to a new negotiating team, which according to him, will expedite the current bargaining going on between the union and the college. Laiacona said the current strategy employed by the negotiating team is ill-defined, despite its perception as being efficient. “I think [we will see] better results by bargaining honestly, fairly and directly without failing to respect one another in negotiations,” Laiacona said. “We’re going to negotiate [by] keeping the mission statement of the college, in terms of student education, at the forefront of our attitudes and our actions.” Erik Rodriguez THE CHRONICLE However, Vallera said negotiations with the college have proven to be successful. According to her, Laiacona’s discernment of the negotiations Meanwhile, Diana Vallera, part-time is inaccurate. instructor in the Photography Depart“The negotiations team is doing ment and current chief negotiator for really well,” Vallera said. “We’re a uniP-Fac, is concurrently urging union fied team. I’ve been sitting at the members to vote for a separate group of table. We are very committed to this adjuncts—including herself. contract, and there’s nothing that’s In a letter collectively drafted to all interfering with our bargaining.” part-time faculty members, the group referred to itself as the bravest, most xx SEE P-FAC, PG. 7
a new contract with the college. In a letter addressed to all adjunct faculty, Laiacona urged P-Fac members to cast their vote for particular individuals—including himself—whom he feels are qualified to overcome the challenges currently facing the union. In the letter, Laiacona described the Steering Committee as rife with strife, distrust, factionalism and anger. By
Final countdown for U.S. Senate hopefuls
Alexi Giannoulias, Mark Kirk square off in final debate before election by Darryl Holliday
Assistant Metro Editor SENATORIAL CANDIDATES U.S. Rep. Mark
Kirk(R) and Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias(D) continued their battle on WTTW-TV’s “Chicago Tonight” on Oct. 27 in the final stretch to fill President Barack Obama former Senate seat. Accusations from both sides came before and after a pledge to go positive in the final debate. LeAlan Jones, of the Green Party, and
Campus
» PG. 8
Mike Labno, of the Libertarian Party, were not invited to participate in the debate. Questions about same-sex marriage, Obama’s stimulus package and political “loonies” were some of the topics discussed during the debate, though the focus remained largely on each candidate’s history and personal mistakes. For Giannoulias, it was the handling of his failed family bank. For Kirk, it was his embellished military record. “The bigger picture is, I have my list, he has his list,” Giannoulias said in response to Kirk’s accusation that Broadway Bank
Courtesy REUBEN PERELMAN
xx SEE DEBATE, PG. 36
Senatorial candidates Republican Mark Kirk (left) and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias (middle) met for their final debate, moderated by Phil Ponce (right), on Oct. 27.
Arts & Culture
» PG. 18
Metro
» PG. 36
INDEX Campus 2 H&F 11 A&C 17
Rapper alum tries politics
Urban exploring in Dixie Square mall
City watchdog provides budget options
Commentary 30 Metro 33