Are #adjuncts worth helping?

…by Jack Longmate as posted to Contingent Academics Mailing List…& related trends. First, take a look at this from the "precarious faculty" archives, Sunday, February 20, 2011 Trend Watching: Jack vs WEA, #StateSOS, Taylorized!

Adjuncts vs. full-time faculty, a Community College Spotlight column, covers mostly Jack & WA HB1631 [an earlier version of 1348, below] kerfuffle (why Jack Longmate along with Wisconsin protesters and former AUC classmates occupying Tahrir Square are my personal heroes)... "Jack vs WEA" counts as a trend because we're going to see more of it, official rhetoric to the contrary not withstanding. Read your labor history. Nothing new under the sun. 

When you finish reading Jack's post below, please read the latest Contractually Bound column, 

Six myths about contract faculty in Canada. Pay particular attention to #3 (which could have been written by one of the WA adjuncts Jack describes in 6-9 below).

1. On Friday, Feb 28, I testified in a Washington state legislative hearing against HB 1348, a bill very strongly supported by tenured faculty and by some part-time faculty.  It has since died for this session. (Should anyone wish to view the hearing, it is viewable at http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2014020206; the hearing on HB 1348 begins at the 39:40; my testimony at the 45:50 mark)

2.  Late Friday also, I read the Noam Chomsky text that Robin J Sowards assembled from a February conference in Pittsburgh, and aspects from two things have been swirling in my mind since.

A Season for Heroes: Keith Hoeller

Good news is always welcome. We don't always see as much of it as we'd like. Today we have a double dose. First, Melissa Brunings-Matteau is current Adjunct Hero (so far the only one with multiple nominations) at the Education of Oronte Churm. Now, Jack Longmate has great news about Keith Hoeller. It's a season for heroes (there's Sissy Bradford too). Jack, no slouch in that department himself, writes, 

I've just learned that Keith Hoeller has been recognized for the Distinguished Faculty Awards at Green River Community College in Auburn, WA.  This is the first time in 27 years that a Green River adjunct has been so recognized.

On this list, we know Keith Hoeller as a dedicated activist and gifted writer, who  publishes often, not just in the higher ed literature, but to the layman and the legislator as editorials in daily newspapers. 


But this award recognizes his teaching too. Keith's students have nominated him for this award on four occasions. Some of the comments in his nomination packet are from students and some from fellow faculty. It is gratifying to read how Keith's teaching has changed people's lives.