Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/229155
Activism Campus Equity Week has become more Meanwhile, faculty on one campus, visible at colleges across the country. College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Despite their doctoral degrees and other added a new dimension to the ongoing experiences, adjunct faculty are drastically struggle — a forum on self-censorship. underpaid, many earning less than the averThe idea emerged from a discussion age sales clerk at Wal-Mart between faculty association and often having no health president Vincent DevlaDespite care benefits. hovich and an adjunct dreary news, faculty member. The majority of contingent academic workers "He shared in confiprogress is earned an average wage of dence his concerns about being made. how adjuncts often feel $2,700 for a three-credit course in 2010, according to they cannot be candid in NEA. This figure means they barely made their respective departments or at their the minimum wage for each hour of their respective institutions for fear of how they work, despite holding advanced degrees. may be perceived by full-time faculty and Despite the dreary news, Johnson is administrators. These perceptions could optimistic that progress is being made. negatively influence section assignments "I think we're in the process of awakenby chairs, recommendations by full-time ing," she said. "We're beginning to make hiring committees, and their reputations in strides in bringing equity to campuses." general — creating an environment where Advocacy adjunct faculty must self-censor themselves," Devlahovich says. "Having been an adjunct, I see the phenomenon of self-censorship as a symptom of the job insecurity experienced by our adjunct colleagues." A number of rallies, workshops and discussions sponsored by CFA were held on CSU campuses as well. CFA President Lillian Taiz opened the first event of Campus Equity Week with the words: "What unifies us all across the country this week is a belief that a two-tiered system will destroy meaningful access for millions of working people, robbing them and our society of the benefits quality higher education can provide." You protect your loved ones... D ECEMBER 201 3 | JANUARY 2014 Educator 12 Dec 2013 v2.0 int.indd 33 www.cta.org 33 12/14/13 3:33 PM