braggslaw

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 2:47 p.m.

Ghost, I don't know anything about a fountain. My point was that individuals/corps/the state/etc.s decided to donate to the football program (When I give I direct it to the engineering program at my beloved university). People have a right to direct gifts. Typically at a big school the athletic budget is separate from the academic budget. At MOST large schools the athletic program is a profit generator. I don't know how licensing is accounted for but I believe at UM it is in the millions of dollars. Those licensing fees are directly related to the success of the sports programs. TV revenues are huge profit generator and are 100% linked to athletics.

Plubius

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 2:09 p.m.

Fire them all and hire professionals.

EMUinsider

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 1:07 p.m.

EMU will NEVER lose it's Division I FBS standing along with every other struggling mid-major school and here is why. EMU along with dozens of other programs makes deals with companies to buy out tickets so that they can reach the minimum. So it really doesn't matter how many people show up or purchase tickets at a football game because said company will be responsible for purchasing out the remainder to meet the 15,000 minimum purchase and this only has to happen once every other year.

MGoYpsi

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 12:04 p.m.

@EMU prof. Julie Myers -Yes all people would like more compensation for what they do. Do you really believe, in your statement,that college professors are the only people that are totally involved in there work, care and suffer burnout. If so, that explains a few things. "One time I was speaking to a nurse at St. Joe's. She asked what I did for a living, and, when I told her she was a college professor, she said that college professors were the only people who she just couldn't get to stop working because they were so totally involved in their work--a testament from someone not in academia. The general public does seem, unfortunately, to have the impression that college professors don't work hard, but to me the truth seems to be just the opposite--a fair number of teachers at EMU seem seriously in danger of complete burnout. Dealing with people's education is an important business, which we all seem to take pretty seriously. I'm very proud to be part of the faculty of EMU because of the dedication of our professors. I believe that most EMU faculty are similarly devoted to their students."

MGoYpsi

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 11:49 a.m.

Ross- "Thus, I think that it is crucial to start questioning what forces shape the real world and why they make a vast majority of population suffer in different ways, especially economic and social ones." Wow, really deep. Are the EMU profs really suffering? The reality is that the economic times are tough for most people. It seems that you feel that the EMU faculty shold be insulated from this. Maybe others should suffer so they don't.

Lynn Worker

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 9:16 a.m.

So if your pay has been cut, everyone else's should? When are Americans going to wake up and demand fair and just compensation? There are many corporations making huge profits (and universities with billions in reserve) while workers get beaten down. Look at the what the top administrators are making. Are they accepting a freeze on their wages? Are they willing to give up benefits? Not that I see.

catfishrisin

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.

Ghost, You are actually making people think...what will this discussion come to?

information please

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 8:05 a.m.

It's not about football OR faculty salaries. It's about football AND faculty salaries. It was not suggested that football should be discontinued, only that the additional unnecessary spending allocated to this ($3.9 million for the practice bubble and.5 million for the scoreboard) should be allocated to the core academic mission of the university, which is teaching and learning. If academics are the top priority at Eastern, then attracting and retaining excellent faculty through salaries and benefits that are aligned with similar institutions is key. Many posts here seem to value the corporate model of distribution of "profits" to employees. If businesses are suffering the employees should pay, and benefit when they are doing well. Two things to consider about this situation, as opposed to corporations: EMU is in the best financial condition that it has been in years, thus the strategy of the 000 campaign was implemented. The second point is that when economic times are hard, many more students enroll in college. So "business" is actually up for many academic institutions. Although universities generally do not generate "profits," when revenue is up, wouldn't it be reasonable to say that asking employees to take a pay cut is unfair, despite the conditions in other industries. Let's say for example you are working for Google, which is currently quite profitable. Should their employees not receive compensation that is commensurate with their revenues and be asked to make major contributions to their healthcare simply because those who work in the auto industry have lost jobs and taken pay cuts?

Silly Sally

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 7:27 a.m.

Health care costs keep rising much, much faster than the inflation rate, as do tuition costs. Why should the faculty at EMU be protected from this increase, like a small child is protected from such costs by mommy and daddy? I am not protected from these increases by my employer, and I once had great coverage. EMU profs: welcome to the real world. Raising your pay is raising my taxes and tuition, or cutting something on campus such as the library. Some of these EMU professors make well over 6 figures, proven by the on-line pay scale published by EMU as required by law. Change the type of coverage so that it is like fee a per-item restaurant instead of an all-you-can-eat buffet. The gravy train should be over!

information please

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 7:24 a.m.

Data on athletic spending in the NCAA can be found at: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/ncaa-finances.htm

Steve Pepple

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 6:11 a.m.

A comment was removed because it contained a variety of allegations and accusations without any proof of their veracity.

braggslaw

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 6 a.m.

The indy stary compiled a database on college athletic budgets. The EMU football and basketball programs do no receive direct institutional support. The revenues are collected from other sources. So there is no direct transfer from EMU (and its academics) to the football and basketball program. BUT the rest of the athletic programs appear to receive between 2million and three million dolars of support. I suppose that would mean cutting all the non-revenue teams. The interesting numbers are that the students contribute close to 1.5 million dollars for football and basketball and non-student contributions are.5 million for football and basketball. The govt. (state?) also contributes.5 million. There is also a bullet for 800,000 in indirect institutional support for the football program. I don't know what indirect support is. Conference TV distributions were 1 million dollars. Which is all gravy. Football Men's Basketball Women's Basketball Other Non Program Specific Total Ticket Sales $130,374 $40,599 $12,593 $6,870 $0 $190,436 Student Fees $1,278,288 $252,116 $295,898 $3,612,307 $1,569,794 $7,008,403 Guarantees $355,659 $35,000 $10,000 $6,100 $0 $406,759 Contributions $94,113 $7,493 $16,576 $291,723 $65,102 $475,007 Third Party Support $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Government Support $311,368 $17,916 $18,746 $1,586,430 $0 $1,934,460 Direct Institutional Support $0 $0 $583,023 $2,035,707 $3,082,109 $5,700,839 Indirect Institutional Support $747,907 $318,988 $289,403 $917,730 $217,923 $2,491,951 NCAA/Conference Distributions $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,037,899 $1,037,899 Individual School Media Rights $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Concessions, Programs, Parking $11,497 $0 $0 $1,381 $1,432 $14,310 Advertisements & Sponsorship $133,211 $63,711 $0 $0 $0 $196,922 Sports Camps $33,165 $36,360 $84,755 $239,392 $0 $393,672 Endowments/Investments $4,738 $0 $0 $0 $0 $4,738 Other $3,146 $0 $600 $79,997 $21,968 $105,711 Subtotal $3,103,466 $772,183 $1,311,594 $8,777,637 $5,996,227 $19,961

ross

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 12:40 a.m.

@Martin Church: hey Professor, where is the school going to get these additional funds. From the state, the taxpayers? we the taxpayers are broke. I am losing my job because you want to drive imports. You tell your students European and Canadian health systems are better and they believe you. You have supported changing the way American think. Now you need to learn to live with the results. A damaged American system where more people are on the government roles. Take your medical like the rest of us. I know I have. I took 30% pay cut, lost my health benefits and now I am losing my job. I think that we should be immensely thankful that those professors who talk to students about the world and who open their eyes upon the world, namely life and experience of other countries. For example, by learning political, economic, and social structures of other countries, we can improve our own if necessary. It is a high time for a vast majority of American population to become more well-rounded by obtaining knowledge about the world. It might help to make connections among current economic crisis, growing socio-economic inequalities and other disparities. Professors did not make taxpayers broke. Corporate elites did it to them by corrupting/lobbying in Washington, DC. Individuals should comprehend that they have become victims of capital elites who have been pursuing their own needs and interests. They have been projecting the outcomes and unfortunately, we have been implementing them.

ross

Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 12:20 a.m.

@ MGoYpsi: What makes the EMU Prof's so special? Get a clue. Everyone is struggling,taking pay cuts and paying more for healthcare. Join the real world. I personally think that this comment is very disturbing. Firstly, why should individuals follow a flow of the river? Why should everybody experience and agree with an agenda of political, economic or social crisis? Secondly, individuals should be concerned and critically question why the real world is like that and what forces/interests shape it. Why do we often obediently agree with pay cuts or healthcare coverage increase? If those individuals live in the country of freedom, democracy and equality, why can they not find answers for those questions? It leads to the questioning or even violating the status quo of the existing political, economic, and social institutions. While obedient individuals are preoccupied with daily routine and often follow a flow of the river, a master is doing his job meeting his own interests not the interests of a vast majority of individuals. Thus, I think that it is crucial to start questioning what forces shape the real world and why they make a vast majority of population suffer in different ways, especially economic and social ones.

jrigglem

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:55 p.m.

@Ghost, I never said it was their responsibility to find me a job, I said that I haven't found one and am not even privileged enough to have "high" insurance premiums. Instead all my doctor bills are paid out of pocket from a less than exceptionally paying job. Honestly, they could be worse off. As someone stated, if you hate the pay you can always leave. The real point is the only people suffering with their strike is the students. I support Unions as much as the next guy but at what cost will this strike affect all parties involved?

braggslaw

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:39 p.m.

Ghost, Nobody answered the question.. does EMU athletics pull in more money than it spends? That would include licensing and TV revenue. A few alumni? I think you are presuming that nobody really cares. If they win, the stands will fill. CMU and WMU have good attendance at their games. When EMU has good bb and fb teams, the stands fill. With reference to all the EMU professors talking about the services they provide, a 40% graduation rate is pathetic. 6 out 10 kids who goto EMU wiull never graduate. What's the point of having EMU at all- other than to pay professors? The university has failed on so many levels with such a pitiful graduation rate. I also find the argument that "if they can fund athletics they can give me more money" ridiculous and disingenuous.

Emily

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:28 p.m.

OK. I'm an Eastern student, and I'm of two minds on this. I think the administration's priorities are wrong, because they receive more of EMU's money than the faculty does. So for all those who are saying that the faculty don't live in the real world, what world exactly are the administrators living in? Why do they make more money than the people who actually do the teaching, which is kind of the point of a university, right? And why do they think they can tell the faculty to take less money than them? So anyway, that's one of my minds. The other is, I don't make $73,000 a year (their average salary), and I find it hard, at this moment to empathize with someone who does, especially knowing that their strike could delay my graduation from college and jeopardize my earning potential. I really hope they come to an agreement without striking. I hope its a fair agreement, I think the faculty deserve that, and they deserve to share the wealth of the university. And I really do think spending money on our losing football team just so we try to pretend that we're the U of M is an egregious waste.

EMU prof. Julie Myers

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:23 p.m.

Piggy-backing on Emily comments, as a college professor, I'm really tired of hearing that I don't live in the "real" world. Though I can't give you any statistics, education is a very large part of our national economy. Also, it prepares young people and not-so-young people to lead thoughtful, productive, and rich lives. So what's not real about that; it is essential! Also, I think that it is extremely interesting that a fairly large number of commentators are in favor of EMU getting rid of football.

braggslaw

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:18 p.m.

With reference to athletics. At most universities in the Big 10, the athletic budget is separate and is typically in the black. That is revenue exceeds expenses. I do not know if that is true at EMU. People can argue that EMU football stinks but I believe(I am biased) that EMU gains some prestige from having a football team. EMU also gains recognition from being in the MAC. My degrees are from Big 10 schools so maybe my perspective is skewed. Athletics at Big 10 schools (and many other smaller schools) creates pride, a center of gravity for alumni and a concomittant increase in alumni donations. It would be short-sighted and a punishment to many EMU alumni to eliminate the football program so they could get a 3.5% raise. I believe that the elimination of the football program would lead to a decrease in alumni donations and licensing fees that would out-strip the savings in eliminating the football program. Alas,the shortsightedness of the union will no recognize this issue.

Emily

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:12 p.m.

OK. I'm an Eastern student, and I'm of two minds on this. I think the administration's priorities are wrong, because they receive more of EMU's money than the faculty does. So for all those who are saying that the faculty don't live in the real world, what world exactly are the administrators living in? Why do they make more money than the people who actually do the teaching, which is kind of the point of a university, right? And why do they think they can tell the faculty to take less money than them? So anyway, that's one of my minds. The other is, I don't make $73,000 a year (their average salary), and I find it hard, at this moment to empathize with someone who does, especially knowing that their strike could delay my graduation from college and jeopardize my earning potential. I really hope they come to an agreement without striking. I hope its a fair agreement, I think the faculty deserve that, and they deserve to share the wealth of the university. And I really do think spending money on our losing football team just so we try to pretend that we're the U of M is an egregious waste.

Steve Krause

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 9:17 p.m.

Someone asked, so I'll answer: last year (August 2009 to August 2010), I paid about $1200 in insurance. Now, I realize that this is not that much by some standards, but a) my wife is also a prof at EMU (so that means I might pay less than a lot of people), and b) I have one child (also a reason I might pay less than a lot of people). So, on the one hand, asking folks to pay $2800 or so a year in insurance isn't terrible relative to a lot of other professions. But on the other hand, at EMU, because of the way salaries are set up, if I paid that much more in insurance, then the administration would be "offering" me a 2 or 3% pay cut. That, my friends, is not cool, which is why I suspect we'll go on strike.

catfishrisin

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 9:14 p.m.

Ghost, You nailed it! Thank goodness for common sense.

catfishrisin

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 9:05 p.m.

Alpha Alpha, This issue was somewhat addressed if you back up to Steven Kraus's post. But when it comes to fidelity, keep in mind the last time negotiations ensued, the (objective) mediator sided with the union's data, not the administration's. I would put my money on the unions numbers any day.

AlphaAlpha

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 8:56 p.m.

"...the administration issued a report saying that faculty compensation per full-time equivalent is greater at EMU than at peer institutions. The union has said compensation lags that of peer institutions." Who is right? How can we know? Mr. Jesse?

catfishrisin

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 8:46 p.m.

To piggy back off the previous post...why not dump athletics in general, not just football, and instead enhance the intramural and recreation center program (wellness) so that all students can benefit, not just an elite few who only entertain their family and friends. The remaining funds can be channeled into academic affairs. Just a thought.

EMU prof. Julie Myers

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 8:42 p.m.

Sorry about the typos in my above statement, and one potential Freudian slip!!! Anyway, I'd also like to comment on faculty governance. Colleges do not have top down governance as corporations do. Faculty, traditionally, have been very involved in running colleges/universities. As one other commentator noted, many in the administration are also part of various departments. Faculty provide input at many levels to guide the decisions of administrators. (This is part of their service activities.) Faculty cannot accept interference in the evaluation standards of various departments. No administrator above the department level can know every field in the university, and, because academic fields are so different, the members of the PROFESSION must establish their own standards. Would you like the owners of insurance companies to establish the evaluation standards for doctors? I think not. The profit motive guides the decisions of insurance companies, just as it seems to guide the decisions of EMU administrators. If we give up faculty governance, EMU will be run like a for-profit company. That, I can tell you, is NOT the way to put Education First.

EMU prof. Julie Myers

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 8:22 p.m.

Athletics is not academics. It is a co-curricular activity, and thus really has nothing to do with Education first. How about a compromise on athletics? Get rid of football and concentrate on a sport in which EMU can be successful. With UofM football down the road commanding a lot of fans, it is hard to image that EMU will ever have a really devoted football following. Faculty members do NOT just work 12 hours a week. Our teaching load is 4 courses, 3 preparations each term. Most colleges have a 3 class work load, and I believe UofM has a 2 course work load. I think only community colleges have a higher teaching load, and some high school teachers teach less. While we are in the classroom 12 hours per week, our classes require much out of classroom work. Preparing a class is very time consuming, and even if one has taught the class for a while, it does need to be routinely updated to reflect current scholarship in our fields. I routinely have 200 students in four courses and grading papers for this no. of students is also extremely time consuming. I typically have 5 assignments per term per class (papers and essay exams) taking from 15 min. to 1 hour to grade. I'm very conscientious in trying to help my students improve by thoroughly commenting on their work. We also have up to 10 office hours per week (5 plus 5 by appointment). We are also continuously available to students on email, and I am often up late at night answering student emails. In addition, we have committee work which is involved in the everyday work of the department. Depending on the committees I've been on, I probably have spent 2, 8 hour days per week on committee work. Not all faculty do this much; some do more. We also try to work on our research projects during the school term, but quite honestly it is very difficult to find time to work on research during the school year because of the demands of teaching and service. I think almost every EMU faculty member would concur with this statement. Thus we spend the summer updating our classes, including reworking assignments to make them more effect, and doing research, which, as other commentators have pointed out, is part of our job. But faculty members don't do this simply because they are required to do so. They do it because of their love of learning and, quite frankly, their obsession with their. One time I was speaking to a nurse at St. Joe's. She asked what I did for a living, and, when I told her she was a college professor, she said that college professors were the only people who she just couldn't get to stop working because they were so totally involved in their work--a testament from someone not in academia. The general public does seem, unfortunately, to have the impression that college professors don't work hard, but to me the truth seems to be just the opposite--a fair number of teachers at EMU seem seriously in danger of complete burnout. Dealing with people's education is an important business, which we all seem to take pretty seriously. I'm very proud to be part of the faculty of EMU because of the dedication of our professors. I believe that most EMU faculty are similarly devoted to their students.

braggslaw

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 8:16 p.m.

The focus keeps jumping from issue to issue...athletic, administration, graduates who cannot get jobs. That is a disservice to the real question. Do the profs deserve a pay increase in these tough times. A pay increase that will be borne by the taxpayer or students. It's really that simple. It is all about money.

stunhsif

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 7:21 p.m.

@A2.com, what do professors currently pay weekly toward their healthcare costs. Based on their last contract I thought you had indicated it was around 20 dollars a week. As well, what are their copays for prescriptions/office visits and emergency room visits.

MGoYpsi

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 7:13 p.m.

What makes the EMU Prof's so special? Get a clue. Everyone is struggling,taking pay cuts and paying more for healthcare. Join the real world.

Lokalisierung

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 6:20 p.m.

Sorry my post should have read "0% then 1% & 1%."

Mick52

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 6:11 p.m.

A $1650 increase in insurance premiums is a big jump, $138/mo. It would be easier to decide on which side of this fence I am standing on to jump down to if I knew what Profs currently pay for insurance, and if the premiums have gone up or if the admin is asking the Profs to cover more of the overall costs EMU has been paying. I went to graduation last spring when President Martin announced a zero % increase for students in the upcoming year (thanks Suze, but a trifle late). Good news for students but it must have caused some wrinkles on faculty brows. Times are tough, but increasing HC costs by that much and offering only 1% in raises seems somewhat insulting. It's a significant cut in compensation.

Lokalisierung

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 6:09 p.m.

"Today's party game du jour is Slam the EMU Prof." Ha great post, and true. Oh my gosh, how dare profs want to get more than a 0% raise for 2 years then a 1% raise the third year. What a bunch of money grubbing, student hating hooligins! I'm seriously actually wondering how "the public sector" lives. Have you never recieved a raise? Has your check never gone up to deal with the cost of living? Maybe you're getting hosed, and maybe you shouldn't be so made that other people are sticking up for themselves.

Lokalisierung

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 6:03 p.m.

"Would you be happy to be unemployed for over a year?" No I wouldn't. I also don't know how much I would complain about it since so many are looking for jobs right now. I certainly wouldn't be discouraged if I had graduated in June and hadn't found a job yet.

Speechless

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 5:59 p.m.

"... the conversation with this recent article seems pretty hostile...." Yep. It's party time! Welcome to the Union Bash, where graduates of Angry Studies stop by to mingle and share good cheer! Come on in, tie a tea bag to the rim of your cap, and make yourself right at home! Today's party game du jour is Slam the EMU Prof. Lots of entertaining fun so far, as you can see from the majority of these many comments! You get extra bonus points for taking down an entire green & white academic department. Should you get really fired up, begin to reminisce warmly about the good old days of Americana long past. Think back to a time when men were real men, women stayed at home, and children feared the lash. Back when union picket lines and billy clubs were seemingly meant for each other. Wouldn't it be nice in this unruly modern era to once again live in a society that truly valued compulsory labor efficiency and sternly frowned upon any diversion of time and energy into collective bargaining... just like China?

dading dont delete me bro

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 5:56 p.m.

sonnydog09, that's a sweet avatar you got there man. so, what's this mean for students? will we be notified if classes are postphoned? will we be notified if there are replacements and are to show up anyway? inquiring minds want to know.

jrigglem

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 5:52 p.m.

Should I be happy that I haven't found a job after a year? Should I be grateful that I haven't found a job? Really? Would you be happy to be unemployed for over a year?

Lokalisierung

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 5:15 p.m.

"Well I'm glad that Julie's son was able to find a decent, well paying job. Both my boyfriend and I are recent EMU graduates (I, in 2009, he in June) and are still yet to find a job." So in the worst economic/unemployment situation in the state's history and you're upset because it takes you 'possibly' more than a year and your boyfriend more than 3 months to get a job?

jrigglem

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 3:53 p.m.

Well I'm glad that Julie's son was able to find a decent, well paying job. Both my boyfriend and I are recent EMU graduates (I, in 2009, he in June) and are still yet to find a job. We can't even get a job with our Alma mater, which we have applied for several jobs, that we qualify for, only to be sent a rejection letter. He works at Walmart and we can barely afford our rent, and we don't even have health insurance. If it's about the students, then maybe Susan and the rest of the faculty should have a dose of what us current graduates are going through. Jobless or working at less an professional jobs just to pay the bills. I hope they at least are present in the class room this year if they decide to strike. Their absence is affecting the students education and wasting their tuition dollars as well. Remember the school slogan Susan and EMU Faculty; "Education First"

Steve Krause

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 3:51 p.m.

I would post more here, but the conversation with this recent article seems pretty hostile. So if you are curious what I would think about all this (and I doubt anyone actually is curious about that!), just see my comments on the previous story or on EMUTalk.org I do want to add two things to what catfishrisin said though. First, the ratio of how much money is devoted to faculty versus administrators is way out of whack at EMU, and that is even confirmed by the numbers supplied by the administration. So at the same time that the administration/Board of Regents is asking faculty to take a cut in pay for insurance, they (well, not the BoR since they aren't paid) are getting paid more. Not even remotely fair. Second, the majority of administrators actually do have tenure. This is because most administrators rise from the faculty ranks, or when they come into the institution, they are granted tenure in the appropriate department. Provost Jack Kay is also a professor of communications, and I believe President Susan Martin is a professor in the business college. Of the people on the EMU administration negotiating team, the only ones who might not have tenure are from academic HR.

catfishrisin

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 3:31 p.m.

"If you want to start being paid like an administrator, then volunteer to give up tenure and work a full 12-month year. Simple as that". No, not that simple. You missed the point. Faculty don't want to be paid like an administrator. I was only showing the huge discrepancy between administrator pay compared to peer institutions (EMU administrators get more) while faculty pay compared to its peer institutions get considerably less. So when EMU claims that faculty are being "unrealistic in their demands" they (administration) should first look at themselves. Simple as that.

Cash

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 3:18 p.m.

@ERMG, "....... but don't bat an eyelash at a university spending $59 million on its athletic facilities." Reading Mr Kraft's quote I don't read it to state $59 million was spent on athletic facilities. $59 million was the difference between the total capital outlay and the academic....not the amount spent for athletics. He states $6 million was spent and that includes the Lake House which is next to the new union building and isn't used for IC athletics at all. It's a building for campus gatherings and has paddle boats for students to enjoy. Other funds were no doubt spent on items like the new student union, and the renovation of McKenny Hall, improvements in the walks and grounds etc.... non academic but not athletic. That was my read of his quote.

julieswhimsies

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 2:59 p.m.

My son received his degree at Eastern Michigan University. He received an outstanding education, due, in large part to the excellent and committed faculty. He was able to land a great job in his field immediately after graduation. Eastern is one of the best values in higher education in the state of Michigan. I support the faculty!

Janet Kohler

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.

Faculty are not considering the REAL world. this comment caught my eye: "Could you afford having over 5% of your salary going to pay for health care premiums next year alone and unexpectedly at that? We are self-employed and have to pay our own health Insurance. We pay $400/month and that doesn't cover ANYTHING! It is "Major Medical", and as a family of three (now four with an added foreign exchange student) we have to rack up $2000 in expenses before BCBS kicks in 80%. We still would have to pay the extra 20%. We don't have dental insurance, or prescriptions, or doctor coverage. I finally went this year for a physical and a mammagram (It had been three years) and it cost me over $400.00. I won't go again for another three. I'm glad I have a garden and eat right and exercise, that is my insurance! Faculty get real here, you are paid extremely well, tighten up your budget, thats how the rest of us make in a "down turned" economy.

Kris Palmer

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 2:29 p.m.

I agree with comments regarding the absurdity of the teacher union's demand for pay increases during these difficult times for Michigan Residents and Taxpayers. Exactly how out of touch are these EMU professors with the "real world?" Never mind, that question has already been answered! I hope that the EMU Administration pulls it together and brings in the adjunct professors to help them during a possible strike period. Anyone affiliated with EMU knows that the adjuncts do the same work, if not more, and are highly motivated because they do in fact work in the real world when they aren't in the classroom or grading papers. Alternatively, I also hope this will give the EMU professors an opportunity to see what they are worth in the real world -- the same world we lowly taxpayers live in since they obviously have no clue. The very idea that we should pay for their increased healthcare benefits is absurd. Many of us pay more than 5% from our earnings for healthcare coverage - sorry, but this is a very weak argument on behalf of the union representative.

trptplyr1

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 2:16 p.m.

@Cash: "Why don't you fault the expensive theater and music programs? Oh wait, that faculty is union!" You can't fault programs that are not as expensive as you seem to think. The music program operates mostly because of the fundraisers put on by students. The marching band does not travel to away games because of lack of funding and has to fundraise simply to be able to provide working insturments, supplies and uniforms to its members. Unfortunately, with economic times the way they are, everyone goes over-worked and under-paid. Sadly, when it comes to EMU faculty, they started that way and cannot find a way out. Hang in there faculty!

Cash

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 2:08 p.m.

@Lokalisierung To their credit, you don't hear much at all from EMUs other unions on campus. Almost everything there is unionized except the administrative positions. So managers, clericals, maintenance, janitorial, skilled trades, technical, police, command, etc....all have their own unions and seem to settle quietly and with little ill-will toward their employer. Frankly I give them credit for that.

Lokalisierung

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:53 p.m.

"if they don't want to work for what the school is willing and able to pay, they can be replaced." Agreed, although that is going to take a lot of time. That;s that is the outcome of any group of employees anywhere. This is a contract dance, happens every timewith every union, or when you go into buy a car. Set the bar high so they come down and you're still happy etc etc.

Cash

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:52 p.m.

ERMG, "Fact of the matter is the EMU is, for the vast majority of its students, a commuter school for whom intercollegiate athletics are meaningless in their day-to-day academic lives." The first part of your "statement" is proven to be true....a fact. The second part is not proven, not a fact, and thus is only your speculation. How many listen to games on the radio? on the internet? You have no proof of the meaning of athletics to 24,000 students.

lumberg48108

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:50 p.m.

after re-reading Susan's comments its clear the union needs a good PR firm to do the talking for them - I wonder if she realizes how much damage to the cause she did with a few simple words... "We are very frustrated,angry and worried about whether faculty can afford the increased costs of health-care premiums that the administration wants us to pay and without giving us an across-the-board raise." GET A CLUE!!

Top Cat

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:48 p.m.

Individually or collectively, if they don't want to work for what the school is willing and able to pay, they can be replaced.

Cash

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:46 p.m.

Edward, Imagine a non-member of EMU's AAUP walking in to a lecture hall at EMU and telling a prof what to teach!! I don't know about you but I don't think even Shaw would have been prepared for that one! :-)

Lokalisierung

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:35 p.m.

"The EMU Board of Regents intends to make the program viable." Does that mean financially or making it a decent program? "Imagine if a board member went into a prof's class and started to teach!!" Not really the same thing at all to me. But hey, they just might have to if no contract is signed.

Cash

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:29 p.m.

Lokalisierung, The EMU Board of Regents intends to make the program viable. Whether that will happen or not it is still not the call of faculty. Imagine if a board member went into a prof's class and started to teach!! Horrors! In the same way,running the school is not part of the faculty's responsibility.

Lokalisierung

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:19 p.m.

Student sports being cut is not unheard of, it happens. I don't want to see the football team cut either, but look at it logically. If your giving money to a program that isn't giving you much in return, what is the point?

Cash

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:12 p.m.

@Lokalisierung, Win or lose, this is a student sport. People tend to forget these are young men playing a game and going to school. This isn't Michael Vick or Brett Farve playing pro ball. To disrespect them while taking their money to pay the salaries for the faculty, is just plain wrong.

Lokalisierung

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:03 p.m.

They already made a big deal out of the whole 0% tuition increses though right? Of course tuition going up shouldn't shock anyone either. "Not sure about the wisdom of attacking the football team, though at 0-12 last season it's debatable whether the football team can fight back." WEll it's an easy targert since they are god awful and often ranked as the WORST team in Division 1. Couple years ago they were in big danger of losing diuvision 1 status due to low attendance. Oh wait, they still are ranked the worst 120. Eastern Michigan

Cash

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:01 p.m.

First, I believe that EMU administrators must lead by example. Have the EMU non-union administrators taken a 0% pledge for the length of time the faculty is being asked to do so? Has Ann Arbor.com FOIA'd the raises of non-union administrators? I'd like to see that information. Whenever the issue of administrative compensation comes up it is deflected with a comment about the percentage of salary paid to administrators being small. That is not the point. Lead by example!!! Hold your salary and pay more toward benefits. That's the point! Now....second, EMU faculty: Stop biting the hands that feeds you. Eastern Michigan has had and will have a football team, as determined by administration (you are NOT administrators and as such cannot rule the university), made up of dedicated students and led by a great bunch of coaches who have been out in the field in 90degree plus weather, while you sit in your cottage up north. These young men are disrespected by the national and local media and kicked around by you,the disgruntled EMU faculty union. Why use them as your battering ram every contract? Do you think if EMU disbanded their athletic program to appease faculty, you'd get more money? That's a laugh! Did one of you not make the team in college or something? Your demoralizing comments show lack of respect for the students and their coaches. But then those coaches aren't in your union, are they? Why don't you fault the expensive theater and music programs? Oh wait, that faculty is union! EMU isn't the administrators, the staff, the faculty, the buildings the grounds...EMU is each and every student enrolled there and that includes the young men out working hard to play football and go to school. They deserve a faculty that respects their efforts.

braggslaw

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 12:51 p.m.

Clearly it's not about the kids, as they will have to bear the brunt of any increase in pay in higher tuition costs.

Macabre Sunset

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 12:38 p.m.

At least they haven't trotted out the "it's all about the kids" line yet. Not sure about the wisdom of attacking the football team, though at 0-12 last season it's debatable whether the football team can fight back. The union does seem completely out of touch in an economy where everyone is having to pay costs associated with an out-of-control health-care system. You think it's bad now? Wait until 2015 when the brunt of the new health care legislation takes effect.

amazonwarrior

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 12:30 p.m.

ALL of the bargaining units at EMU have taken a "hit" in recent years, so now it's the faculties turn to "contribute" (suck it up). A PAY cut is better than a JOB cut, but then grad assistants and instructors would be more than capable of teaching your classes. (I speak from experience, I use to work at EMU.) Greedy, greedy, greedy!

Lokalisierung

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 12:28 p.m.

Wow College Profs hitting the picket line...how shocking; must be fall.

SonnyDog09

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 12:16 p.m.

"I understand your anger but it is misdirected when you single out the faculty. Make the administration and board of regents accountable." I will direct my anger at administration and the board when they threaten to go out on strike because they are not offered a large enough raise that would enable them to continue to live in the manner to which they are accustomed to.

a2huron

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 12:12 p.m.

@catfishrisin: you are clearly shilling for the faculty union, but comparing faculty to administrators is apples to oranges. Faculty only have to work 8 months a year on their base salary with tenure( they get even more if they work summers). Administrators come and go like the weather since they can and often are fired at will. If you want to start being paid like an administrator, then volunteer to give up tenure and work a full 12-month year. Simple as that.

averagetaxpayer

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 12:02 p.m.

When students get to the classroom I hope instructors clarify that what came out of the mouths of union leaders mouth was just "union rhetoric". If teachers are really that out of touch with reality I wouldn't consider allowing my child to attend EMU. They are better off, as the commercial goes, "going to school in their pajamas". Hold firm EMU. Go Eagles.

catfishrisin

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 11:58 a.m.

"Where is EMU going to get the money" The EMU administrators make more than their counterparts at CMU & WMU while the faculty make less $ and have worse benefits than their counterparts at CMU & WMU while also living in a higher cost of living area. I understand your anger but it is misdirected when you single out the faculty. Make the administration and board of regents accountable.

Lokalisierung

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 11:41 a.m.

"oh, and EMU, have you been paying the City of Ypsilanti for your fire protection since there are no property taxes from EMU or are you still stiffing this little City?" Hmmm...wonder where they learned that one from?

Martin Church

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 11:28 a.m.

hey Professor, where is the school going to get these additional funds. From the state, the taxpayers? we the taxpayers are broke. I am losing my job because you want to drive imports. You tell your students european and Canidan health systems are better and they believe you. You have supported changing the way american think. Now you need to learn to live with the results. A damaged american system where more people are on the government roles. Take your medican like the rest of us. I know i have. I took 30% pay cut, lost my health benefits and now I am losing my job.

clara

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:52 a.m.

oh, and EMU, have you been paying the City of Ypsilanti for your fire protection since there are no property taxes from EMU or are you still stiffing this little City?

stunhsif

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:51 a.m.

As a graduate of EMU back in 82 I wish to point out that EMU make have a weak football team but their cross country and track and field programs have been some of the best in the nation for the past 30 years. I ran for Bob Parks (retired CC and track coach)and he is a legend in his field throughout the country. Baseball teams and swim teams have also had great success as well. I agree that if EMU were to do away with their athletic programs, EMU would not be nearly as attractive to the students, and as one said earlier, it is about the students is it not?

clara

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:51 a.m.

"We are still far apart and the administration is still offering the faculty a pay cut. We are very frustrated, angry, and worried about whether faculty can afford the increased cost of health-care premiums that the administration wants us to pay and without giving us an across-the-board raise." WEll if your union did not back the new healthcare plan you probably would not be in such a fix. Only a 3.5% raise a year! Other state employees have been working under a pay freeze and mandatory work without pay (an effective cut in hourly income). The private sector is doing even worse. Tell the union to shut up, pony up for the heath care they demanded the feds pass and take a pay freeze or go to Arizona to work.

mm1001

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:44 a.m.

Hey all of you Professors welcome to the real world. At least 5% of my salary, which is mosy likely a mere fraction of yours, goes to health premiums. So get real and start focusing on educating my kid.

braggslaw

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:32 a.m.

MEant EMU not MSU in the previous post. EMU athlestes have a higher grad rate...

InsideTheHall

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:22 a.m.

Remain resolute EMU. Higher education is the last protected bastion. EMU did the right thing by freezing tution on a student base that is not immune to the economic woes of today. Now it is time for the faculty to do their part. It's all about the students correct????????? Cut the pay and yank the sabbaticals!

braggslaw

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:20 a.m.

That is a very interesting stat....athletes at MSU have a higher graduation rate than the student body. That is probably reversed at most other universities. I believe that an athletics program builds the "brand" of a university and generates more money than it consumes. UM and MSU have self funded athletic programs that generate more money than they consume. They are also points of pride for both universities. Athletics are a net positive for a university and only help its academic programs.

catfishrisin

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:11 a.m.

Hey Walter I'm glad to hear the operating costs for the indoor practice facility are more than being paid. You can funnel your profits back to academics where it belongs.

David Jesse

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 9:57 a.m.

Walter Kraft, the university's spokesman, just e-mailed the following in response to the union's football claims referenced in the story: "College athletics is a vital and integral part of the academic experience, for the athletes, our students, and the entire EMU community (faculty, staff, alums, businesses, etc.). Athletics are, however, a small portion of our overall four-year capital-spending plan (2009-2013) of nearly $196 million. More than $137 million, which is just over 70 percent, is directly targeted to academic facilities. This includes projects such as Mark Jefferson, Pray-Harrold, classroom upgrades and Fletcher School. Only 3 percent or our capital spending, or roughly $6 million, is targeted to athletics facilities. These projects include the Indoor Practice Facility at $3.9 million, the athletic scoreboard of $550,000, the Boathouse and improvements to the Convocation Center bleachers. "As promised, and reflective of Easterns commitment to our community, the Indoor Practice Facility is becoming a sought-after recreation/practice facility in the Washtenaw County area. The facility, open only three months, is already achieving rental revenues budgeted at $500,000 per year, more than offsetting operating costs. "Also important relative to any discussion of Easterns spending on Athletics is the significantly higher graduation rate of student-athletes (60 percent) when compared to the overall student population."

SonnyDog09

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 9:55 a.m.

"We are very frustrated, angry, and worried about whether faculty can afford the increased cost of health-care premiums that the administration wants us to pay and without giving us an across-the-board raise." The horror! The horror! For people who are supposed to be real smart, this shows an incredible disconnect with reality. The phrase "tone deaf" comes to mind. I'm sure that the faculty will be shocked to learn that there are millions of people out in the real world who do not get a raise every year, and have taken pay cuts and are paying for more of their health care costs.

a2huron

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 9:38 a.m.

EMU faculty are living in their own world, surrounded by reality. Everyone else, public and private sectors, are taking pay and benefit hits. When they strike, and students decide to go elsewhere, let's see how big the enrollment demand is at EMU. Only thinking of themselves...

catfishrisin

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 9:28 a.m.

Funds allocated to academics were diverted for the construction of the indoor practice facility. The administration has its priorities upside down. "Education First" needs to mean more than a PR slogan. If we don't invest in the academic mission then what is the purpose of having a university?

stunhsif

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 9:19 a.m.

"We are very frustrated,angry and worried about whether faculty can afford the increased costs of health-care premiums that the administration wants us to pay and without giving us an across-the-board raise." Wow, where to start with that one Susan. If this was not in writing, I would not believe you would have ever said what you did. Welcome to the real world Susan, get used to it. Join the rest of us in the private sector who have taken pay cuts, don't have pensions and will most likely never be able to retire. I will never, and I repeat never give another dime to EMU when they call me for donations and I will make it clear to the student that calls ( they do every fall) why.

lumberg48108

Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 8:55 a.m.

How nice that the union dlowered the number of their raise request - are these college professors living in the real world!! All industries are taking pay CUTS and layoffs are eveywhere and they seek increases? I understand negotiating and fighting for health caree benefits but I thought professors are supposed to be smat? Also - EMU spends less on its sports marketing that all other peer schools. The 0-0-0 campaign INCREASED enrollment... the more letters after a name, the less common sense people have!