Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Nov. 14, 1984, edition 1 / Page 5
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Staff photo by Sylvia Hawkins CHANGh UNffilRWAY z Carl and Wanda Kidd the installation of new safety dx>rs in the Village last %ieek. I Wednesday, November 14,1984/THE BLUE BANNER/5 oeiTS letter-continued from page 3 tive as a faculty member. I will begin with point five—Mr. Ross’s concern that the program was scheduled the day before the election. Had I been in Mr. Ross's position, I think I would have been annoyed to be part of what some might will consider a captive audience as a guest speaker did his politicking. This is and understandable reaction. That Mr. Krane politicked is evident. Tliat he did it the day before the eleciton is indisputable. The faculty did not know that Mr. Krane would appeal in the way that he did. However, had I known, iiiy response would have been to prepare students for the presentation by familiarizing them with some of the dynamics of political ap peals; asking them to be alert to their own reactions; urging them to distinguish between evidence and opinion. In effect, the presentation would have been approached on two levels—as a documentary on the arms race, and as a opportunity to examine an element of the anti-arms race political movement. I do not believe that I would liave refused Mr, Krane's participation, Mr. Ross’s other points take issue with the depiction of Reagan; Krane’s anti Reagan bias; Krane's alleging the president is a liar, Mr, Ross argues that students deserve •objective instruction,” It is my firm conviction that the fa culty are responsible for making instruction as "objective" as possible; this does not mean that students should not be exposed to the views of those who are not so objective as we academics attempt to be. Indeed, I would lament an approach that excluded programs and speakers for tear that they might express an unpopular opinion, I would fear a policy that decried as inappropriate any questioning of the personal motives of decision makers or the self-interest inherant in economic or political institutions, ' To sure, the freedom to make accusations and to assert opinions can be abused, 1 would only ask that before allegations of abuse influence faculty to steer away from controversial topics, the overall impact of the program or speak er—as a learning experience—be taken into consideration. In this situation, I feel no need to apologize for the presentation of a documentary on the nuclear arms race, nor for the tact that the producer-director had his own point of view, I do regret that the program was scheduled the day betore the election without students having an appropriate orientation to the nature of the presentation in advance. Sincerely, Phyllis Betts Associate Professor of Sociology face problems on job By Debbie Weeks ihere is definitely a Part-time tacuity mem- problem here and tliat’s bers at UWCA (conmoniy re- you flight see a teach- fered to as adjuncts) ex- er/student conference go- perience advantages and ing on as they sit on the disadvantages not realized steps or stand out in the by full-time members oi; the staff. There are sixty-eight adjunct faculty members at UNCA and according to Dr, Laurence Dorr vice chancellor of academic affairs at UNCA, One part-time faculty member (who wishes to be anonymous) gave his inter pretation of tlie part-time teacher issue. He said,"Un the pro side we have a person who now has a job, who otherwise might not have found one. The teacliing field has expanded tremendously and competition is great. The con side is that ad juncts are underpaid. Some find themselves overworked and in some instances find themselves a non-person. By this I mean, they are not integrated into the department they work for," Dr. Jeff Rackliam, chair man of the literature de hallway," said Rackham. "I believe this offers a psyctiological disadvantage for the adjunct.These peo ple are professionals. If they don’t have some re cognition for that, they may feel like their life has been wasted," contin ued Pvackham. Adjuncts teach over 50 percent of the freshman composition courses of fered, said Rackham. "In the literature de partment, our part-time faculty attend our meet ings and help determine policy, such as what text books to acquire," said Ra ckJiam. On the issue of part- time teachers' salaries, Rackham agrees they are underpaid, "but the fact is ttiat all teachers are basically underpaid. There has been nationwide recog nition of tliat problem. Part-time teachers are mer Rackham refered to an "unscientific survey" on salaries among part-time teachers. He said, "We (UInCA) had notiling to be ashamed of as a result. We landed right in the middle. In fact there were fewer in a higher bracket than of a lower." Dorr makes the final de cision as to the hiring and salaries of the ad junct faculty. Dorr said, "Adjunct fac- People will say we're exploiting them, but we assume these people have other jobs as well," said Dorr. "Their wages are not designed to provide a liv ing as are they full time teachers salaries." Some part-time faculty are professionals from the community who receive an additional source of in come. Otiicr UNCA aa juncts find themselves also teaching at surrounding institutions like Western ulty are used to supple- Carolina University, Ashe- partment at UNCA, is a- victims of that larger ec- ware of part-time teach- onomic issue." ers' problems. In his de- ^ ' partment, eleven adjuncts . \ ^ share one-half of an of- University tacuity meeting in Utah last sum- ment the work of regular faculty as our enrollment at UNCA grows. 'Chere were hot enough funds to hire other full-time faculty members." "The money to pay part- time teachers comes from the same pot as the full time teachers," continued Dorr. " "We must consider, so as to^be conscientious to the needs of our students, that the more you raise salaries the fewer courses we will be able to offer," said Dorr. Dorr said with the money that he would pay one full-time teacher (who may teach eight courses in one year), he can hire a num ber of adjuncts to teach 19 courses. ville-Buncombe Technical College or ^jars Hill Col lege. One UNCA adjunct facul ty, who prefers to be un named, is among those wlio make a living teaching part-time at two or more universities. "It. isn't easy," he said. "The time you spend traveling back and forth is expensive and tiring. You can hope for some re cognition for the experi ence you are getting. And perhaps a full-time posi tion will come your way if you make yourself avail able to more than one uni versity." Some of the benefits full-time teachers enjoy are not available to ad juncts," he continued. "Exclusion from insurance coverage and departriH2nt functions are of the most concern to me. You pretty much are left to fend for yourself and make the best of it. Sometiines you want to throw up your tiands and say is it worth it?" ANSWERS (106 1.Jim brown, 126 rushing, 20 passes) 2.Fran Tarkenton, 342 3.Dan l*outs, 4082 playing for San Diego Chargers in I97y Used Book Trading Post Thousands To Choose From Downtown Lexington Park Next to Gatsbys 253-7278 10% Discount to Students With Valid ID
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Nov. 14, 1984, edition 1
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