The BFA had its end-of-year Board Meeting on May 13th. We had a lively discussion (by Zoom, of course) about how the BFA should advocate for faculty with regard to looming fiscal challenges and their repercussions. We agreed that this is not a time for the administration to pursue the dubious FR (finance reform) model that was met with widespread opposition by Academic Senate committees as well as many deans and chairs. We support the university’s insistence on the priority of health and safety of all its members, and oppose a freeze on lecturer hiring (which has since been lifted). Another result of our discussion was the formation of two working groups: one to address the meaning of the public university under Covid-19, and the second to envision best practices under remote instruction.
We committed ourselves to continue our commentaries in the weekly newsletter. Three weeks ago, we took a position on possible furloughs or pay cuts, arguing that if furloughs there be, they should be steeply progressive. The following week, we offered a Pandemic Bill of Rights for all workers and students, and last week, we advanced a set of principles that should dictate the operation of a public university in the age of Covid-19. Forthcoming commentaries will focus on solidarity with campus unions to defend our separate and common interests, and on innovative ways of thinking about remote instruction.
We also announced the results of the elections and appointments. The 2020-1 Board will have 15 members: Wendy Brown, Michael Burawoy, Sharad Chari, Paul Fine, Anne-Lise François, Peter Glazer, Amanda Goldstein, You-tien Hsing, Celeste Langan, Gregory Levine, Mara Loveman, Chris Rosen, Leslie Salzinger, Shannon Steen, James Vernon. The leadership group remains the same. Wendy Brown, Celeste Langan, Leslie Salzinger and James Vernon (Co-Chairs) and Michael Burawoy (Secretary). Lyn Hejinian and Seth Holmes are leaving the Board and we thank them for their devoted service to the BFA. We will be looking to recruit new board members, especially from under-represented communities, so if you’re interested, please let us know.
We will remain vigilant during the coming months, keeping you abreast of decisions that will affect us all. In the meantime, we hope you will find some peace over the summer vacation in preparation for what is sure to be a challenging year ahead.
Michael Burawoy and Celeste Langan for the Berkeley Faculty Association