ALASKA
The United Academic Adjuncts (UAA) of Alaska, with the support of the state federation, commemorated CEW by formally initiating contract negotiations with the University of Alaska statewide system. Two-thousand "million dollar" bills with the phrase "No Peanuts for Adjuncts" printed on them were ordered and will be used to promote the negotiations. It is hoped that the bills will encourage adjuncts to take a hard look at their contract, and to stir solidarity among adjuncts. In addition, 150 bright orange t-shirts with the "No Peanuts" logo were passed out during an informational picket. Picketing adjuncts were joined by full-timers from the United Academics-AAUP/AFT, and upper-division tenure track part-timers of the Alaska Community College Federation of Teachers. UAA’s CEW efforts caught press coverage in Anchorage and Fairbanks newspapers.

CALIFORNIA
On Oct. 23, the California Federation of Teachers hosted a news conference in San Francisco to release the new national AFT report, "Marching Toward Equity: Curbing the Exploitation and Overuse of Part-time and Non-tenured Faculty." Presenters included Jeremy Elkins, president of the University of California-AFT (UC-AFT), who represented non-senate faculty in the University of California system; Allan Fisher, president of the San Francisco Community College Federation of Teachers; and Cliff Liehe, a part-time instructor at San Francisco City College.

The conference received considerable press attention, attracting 10 print, radio and TV reporters. In addition to discussing "Marching Toward Equity," the presenters detailed the conditions of contingent faculty in higher education today; statewide legislative efforts to address the inequities; and local collective bargaining initiatives on behalf of contingent faculty.

Campus Equity Week activities around the Bay Area included a Town Hall-style hearing held by the UC-AFT near the Berkeley campus on Nov. 1. This event drew 100 people to hear non-senate faculty describe the conditions of their lives. Five California legislators sent staff to take notes and learn how UC treats its contingent academic employees.

Near Santa Cruz, instructors from the Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers (CCFT) were joined by UC-AFT lecturers at UC Santa Cruz to sit on a panel about academic contingent labor on local television. CCFT also set up informational tables throughout the week, featuring form letters to Gov. Gray Davis, buttons, fact sheets on Cabrillo, AFT fact sheets, articles and the trademark complimentary peanuts.

In Southern California, the Los Angeles College Guild hosted a Saturday brunch celebrating CEW and providing a space for part-time faculty to connect. Also present at the brunch were college presidents, administrators, and full-time faculty who dined and discussed continued progress toward part-time equity. The event drew more than 90 people, and proved quite fruitful. For instance, guests decided it would be necessary to schedule a district workshop on health issues for part-timers. The College Guild expressed so much satisfaction over the brunch that it resolved to hold similar gatherings in the future.

On Oct. 28, the Cuesta College Federation of Teachers collaborated with faculty unions from nearby colleges to host an art reception highlighting the artwork of adjunct faculty from Cuesta College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The purpose of the event was to showcase the creative talent of part-time faculty and to accurately depict them as leaders in their fields. The reception also held great significance in terms of solidarity, since it was a first-time partnership between the Cuesta federation and another non-AFT-affiliated union. Next year nearby Allan Hancock College will join Cuesta and Poly in what will then become an annual event.

In the San Diego area, locals from Palomar, Mesa, Grossmont, and Southwestern colleges, including the Palomar College Faculty Federation/CFT and the San Diego College Guild/CFT, banded together to conduct the "Freeway Flyer Tour." In order to best illustrate the "Roads Scholar" experience, press, state legislators and college administrators were invited to ride along on an average part-time instructor’s daily commute. For instance, California Assemblywoman Charlene Zettel was escorted across a 100-mile stretch of California freeway to visit participating campuses, where receptions were organized with local elected officials, students and faculty. Participants met with local faculty union leaders to learn about the plight of part-timers and the state government’s responses to part-time faculty issues.

FLORIDA
The Graduate Assistants United (GAU), a local of the United Faculty of Florida (UFF), staged a Health Benefits Rally to initiate negotiations (which, unfortunately, were postponed to January). The rally took place at the Plaza of the Americas on the University of Florida campus, and was well attended by 150 people, including 85 graduate employees. Participants who wore costumes or brought signs were eligible to win door prizes, and some participants answered the call by dressing in medical garb or carrying banners supporting health benefits for graduate employees; one graduate even rounded up her entire class of undergraduates to variously outfit themselves for the event. Graduate employees who showed up could register to win the grand door prize—a semester of healthcare premiums—and this attracted quite a few extra spectators.

The four main speakers included John Ronan and Frank Goedekke of GAU, Chuck Seegert of the UF Grad Student Council, and Jon Reiskind, president of UF’s faculty chapter of the United Faculty of Florida. Participants displayed healthy enthusiasm by chanting slogans such as "We Want Health Care." Considerable zeal and interest were also generated within the graduate unit, as several new people signed up for union membership. As a whole, the event drew impressive media coverage, receiving enough attention to merit seven radio interviews and two TV interviews. Now, the GAU is committed to rallying every semester in order to attract new membership and raise awareness of graduate employee health concerns.

ILLINOIS
The University Professionals of Illinois/AFT, the Cook County College Teachers Union, and the Graduate Employees Organization at the University of Illinois, Chicago opened up CEW on Oct. 29 with a rally at the State of Illinois building, James R. Thompson Center. An elephant mascot and a person dressed as a Road Runner (i.e., a "Roads Scholar") led 50 activists in distributing 1,500 bags of peanuts along with flyers detailing the predicament of part-time faculty in Illinois.

Elsewhere, Eastern Illinois University’s chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) hosted a luncheon in celebration of part-time faculty on Oct. 31. At Eastern, CEW chiefly provided a venue for tenure-track faculty to do what the university failed to do, which was to honor and recognize part-timers as integral members of the academic community. No protests were organized at the institution, mainly because an unusually high proportion of Eastern’s annually contracted faculty are full time—a fact due in part to the work of the faculty union.

On Oct. 30, UPI president Mitch Vogel and other AFT local leaders testified before the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s Committee to Study Part-time and Nontenure-track Faculty. The leaders presented a Coalition for Consumer Rights survey showing that the Illinois public supports rigorous hiring standards and pro-rata pay for part-time faculty. During the hearing, Vogel offered to give the committee a taste of the CEW campaign, and promptly called the now- famous CEW elephant into the room to hand out peanuts to attendees. It was a UPI House of Delegates Resolution from 2000 that led to legislation focusing IBHE attention on the part-time faculty issue. The committee will release the results of its study along with a survey in December 2001.

Finally, the entire Illinois coalition gathered to close out the week with a giant rally. Representatives from the GEO, NEA, AFSCME, and independent faculty unions all cheered the end of a successful statewide campaign. For the future, UPI will push to officially include part-time faculty organizing in the state AFL-CIO’s organizing agenda.

MASSACHUSETTS
During a rally at Copley Square on Monday, Oct. 29, a musical combo from the Berklee School of Music serenaded the passing crowd. Massachusetts Federation of Teachers president Kathy Kelly delivered a speech underscoring the demand for equity in the ivory tower. Other speakers at the rally included Dan Georgianna, president of the UMASS Dartmouth Federation of Teachers; Mike Scott, president of the Berklee Chapter/AFT; and a representative from the Boston Coalition on Contingent Academic Labor. Activists from the Boston Teachers Union and the New Bedford Federation of Paraprofessionals also attended. Videotapings of the event will be saved and used for future campaigns.

MICHIGAN
On Oct. 31, the Graduate Employees United (GEU) at Michigan State University held a rally in front of the administration building with the theme of "Health Care Horrors" to kick off its first contract negotiations. More than 200 people showed up for the rally, including a few representatives from the University of Michigan graduate local. People shared their experiences with the current healthcare system, talking about their debt troubles and worries about lacking insurance coverage. Some members of the GEU bargaining team noticed an immediate, albeit transient, quickening of bargaining negotiations. Feedback from membership was very positive, and plenty of interest was sparked in participants.

On Nov. 1, the Graduate Employees Organization of the University of Michigan commenced negotiations for creating on-site daycare, improving health benefits, and protecting affirmative action through a study of the university’s hiring outcomes. Approximately 120 participants supported the event, including a representative of the Michigan State GEU, and several members of the emergent Lecturer Employees Organization (LEO) at the U of M. The following week, LEO staged a rally to publicly kick off its organizing drive.

On Oct. 29, a small gathering of the Graduate Employees Organizing Committee (GEOC) at Wayne State and the Wayne State University AAUP/AFT full-time faculty met in the Walter Ruther Labor Law Library. Speakers included Peter Williams, president of the GEOC; Charles Parish, head of the Wayne State AAUP; and Mary Anne Mahaffey, Detroit City Council president. Also presenting were two of Michigan’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates, U.S. Rep. David Bonier and state Sen. Alma Wheeler-Smith. About 50 guests attended the session. Outside, an elephant mascot passed out peanuts.

State Rep. Tony Stamus, Chairperson of Michigan House Appropriations Committee, recently informed the Michigan Federation of Teachers and School-Related Personnel (MFT-SRP) that he would authorize a review of the conditions under which part-time faculty are employed vis a vis  full timers in Michigan’s community college system. Members of the MFT-SRP and its affiliates, such as the Henry Ford Community College Federation of Teachers, had been lobbying Stamus to conduct the review. Stamus agreed to have his own staff and, if necessary, staff at the Michigan House Fiscal Agency to carry out the research.

NEW JERSEY
The Council of New Jersey State College Locals collaborated with the New Jersey Federation of Teachers to organize a rally of about 50 part-time and adjunct professors at the New Jersey Statehouse to demand better pay and working conditions. Demonstrators were accompanied by students and the Solidarity Singers, who keyed up the event with renditions of traditional labor songs. The president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers also attended in support of CEW. State Assemblyman Bob Smith (D-Camden and Gloucester Counties) announced his introduction of Bill #A3831--new legislation that requires colleges to disclose the number of part-time faculty members being employed, along with their positions and salaries. Bill #A3831 calls for the state Commission on Higher Education to analyze the data and then recommend a minimum salary and benefits entitlement for part-time faculty.

NEW YORK
On Oct. 30, the United University Professions/AFT sponsored a panel discussion concerning part-time faculty. UUP president William Scheuerman noted that a mark of a strong university is a core of full-time faculty. He also suggested that mainstreaming part-time faculty into the academic community improves the quality of higher education and attracts the most qualified faculty.

UUP held several events at its various chapters around the state. At SUNY Buffalo, the UUP chapter kicked CEW off with a rally on Oct. 30, which featured union songs, a theatrical troupe and speeches from part-time workers. On Nov. 1, the Buffalo State College chapter of the UUP held its own protest of low wages and benefits for part-time faculty. At the protest, UUP members passed out bags of peanuts and fliers. One member wore his academic robes and an elephant mask. "Degrees of Shame," a documentary by Barbara Wolf relating the plight of part-time faculty in American higher education, was also screened at the Elmwood Avenue campus.

That same day, an open forum on part-time faculty and contingent worker issues, sponsored by the CUNY Professional Staff Congress/AFT, took place at the CUNY Graduate Center. PSC President Barbara Bowen led the forum, during which PSC members Ingrid Hughes and Alex Vitale, John Gordon and Elaine Bobrove of the Camden County College Adjunct Faculty Federation; Eric Marshall of the Federated Adjuncts of New York University; Nick Unger, a representative of the NYC Central Labor Council; and Richard Moser, a representative from the American Association of University Professors, all made points. Audience participation was high, as the group explored the changing academic workforce structure and discussed how to defend good education, workers’ rights, etc.

The United College Employees of the Fashion Institute of Technology (UCE-FIT) observed CEW by distributing "Equal Pay for Equal Work" buttons that were worn by more than 100 of its members. Posters were put up around the FIT campus, and on Nov. 1, a forum was held to discuss adjunct issues. UCE-FIT president Louis Stollar, Trip McCrossin, COPE Director Judy Wood, and two former adjuncts (both of whom worked for the NYU adjunct campaign) spoke at a Q & A session. About 40 people attended the forum.

The Federated Adjuncts of New York University (FANYU) campaign cosponsored an Oct. 28 screening of "Secrets of Silicon Valley," a new film by Alan Snitow and Deborah Kaufman on the subject of contingent labor. FANYU bought tickets for the screening in advance and then distributed them to participants. The film was followed by a discussion with the filmmakers, and with special guest Bruce Raynor, president of UNITE. On Nov. 1, FANYU also held an open house that featured several films by Barbara Wolf.

The Suffolk Community College Faculty Association held screenings of "Degrees of Shame" on all three of the college’s campuses Oct. 29-31. An adjunct member of the Faculty Association’s executive board hosted the viewings. In addition, about 400 people signed and sent petitions demanding fairer treatment of adjuncts to the Suffolk College board of trustees. Faculty Association president Ellen Schuler-Mauk spoke about the misuse of adjuncts at an Oct. 15 board meeting of trustees and presented copies of "Degrees of Shame" to each board member.

OHIO
Campus Equity Week commenced when the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) held an Oct. 29 press conference in the Democratic Caucus room of the Columbus Statehouse, and addressed part-time issues concerning workloads, salaries, academic freedom, health benefits and job security. The meeting concluded with OFT members leaving bags of peanuts in the offices of state legislators, intended as a parody of the low wages that adjuncts, part-timers, and grad students earn in Ohio. A two-hour forum on the overuse of contingent faculty was held Nov. 1 at Bowling Green State University’s Olscamp Hall.

OREGON
On Oct. 23 Gov. John A. Kitzhaber of Oregon set his hand to officially recognize Campus Equity and encourage all state citizens to join in observance. In the resolution, the governor acknowledges that "Campus Equity Week seeks the adoption of labor policies and standards that encourage fairness and dignity for all members of the campus community."

Emboldened by the proclamation, the Portland Community College Faculty Federation (PCCFF) and the Portland State University Part-time Faculty Association, in a coalition with AAUP chapters and NEA locals in Oregon held a rally Oct. 29. Nearly 100 participants gathered in the pouring rain to demand equity for part-timers at their campuses. Speakers, skits and street theater performances constituted the event’s main attractions. Tim Nesbitt, executive director of the Oregon AFL-CIO was one of the featured presenters. Participation was spirited, and audience reaction was generally positive. The PCCFF is now gearing for a legislative campaign and hoping to plan a conference with public officials in the spring.

Meanwhile, the Western Oregon University Federation of Teachers (WOUFT) staged a rally at the steps of WOU's Werner University Center to call for equitable treatment of WOU faculty and faculty nationwide in the name of quality education. An audience of 200 listened to seven speakers representing adjunct faculty, full-time faculty and students.

The Oregon Public Employees Union also sent representatives and speakers for the event. Demonstrators then marched to the administration building and engaged in 20 minutes of loud chanting. The rally proved very effective in heightening student and faculty awareness of part-time inequity, and resulted in what WOUFT president Molly Mayhead describes as a "spectacular" increase in membership. WOUFT has since overwhelmingly authorized a strike for early January, and is awaiting a response from the WOU administration.

PENNSYLVANIA
The Faculty Federation of the Community College of Philadelphia developed an impressive array of CEW activities, beginning Oct. 29 with the distribution of more than 4,000 informational fliers oriented to students. In addition, a Petition for Equity was signed by over 1,500 students and faculty, urging Community College of Philadelphia administrators and Pennsylvania legislators to take action for part-time equity.

An outdoor rally was held at CCP on Oct. 31. One faculty member in an elephant costume passed out peanuts while another in a chicken suit delivered candy corn with the motto "Adjuncts too often work for chicken feed." Representatives from the graduate employee associations at Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania, and faculty from Montgomery County Community College came to show their support. Speeches were given by Larry Gold, director of the AFT higher education department, and Tom Cronin, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. State Sen. Allyson Schwartz also spoke about her bill, Senate Resolution #41, which calls for a committee to study part-time faculty working conditions. In addition, union representatives spoke and led sing-alongs. Crowd reaction, particularly from students, was very positive.

The Faculty Federation screened three showings of "Degrees of Shame" on Nov. 1 and held lively discussions after each. The next day, seven part-time instructor and one former part-timer gave testimony at a hearing before members of the Workers’ Rights Board of Jobs with Justice.

At the University of Pennsylvania, demonstrators rallied in support of the organizing campaign GETUP (Graduate Employees at UPENN), drawing at least 60 participants—a very good first showing. Speakers drummed up enthusiasm for a new university health plan that raised benefits and cut the costs graduate employees have to pay for them.

VERMONT
The United Professions of Vermont (UPV) held a news conference Oct. 29 to draw attention to the plight of part-time university faculty. Speakers included Roy Vestrich, president of UPV and the Vermont State Colleges Faculty Federation; Peter Stavrakis, president of the University of Vermont United Academics; Paul Darby, a part-time faculty member at Castleton State College; and Sheila Boland Chira, part-time faculty member at the University of Vermont. According to Phil Fermonte, executive director of UPV, the union has begun talking to the UVM part-time faculty about an organizing drive.

WASHINGTON
At a Statehouse rally in Seattle, Washington’s governor declared Oct. 29 Adjunct and Part-time Faculty Recognition Day within the state. On that day, the Washington Federation of Teachers (WFT) convened a standing-room-only press conference, which was attended by college system presidents and members of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Earl Hale, director of the board, "accepted" WFT report cards sent to 29 community and technical colleges evaluating each institution’s progress toward part-time equity.

The following day, the WFT held a ceremony to honor Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney and Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, two state legislators who have fought congressional battles for salary and fringe benefit increases for part-time faculty. On Oct. 30-31, hundreds of cards were signed in a letter-writing campaign to urge the governor to address the rise in part-time faculty. Another event was the Washington State Labor Council’s approval of a resolution recognizing CEW.

Many other locals contributed to making CEW a success in Washington. Thanks to the efforts of the Seattle Community College Federation of Teachers, for instance, 150 faculty throughout the district agreed to incorporate part-time equity issues into their curricula.

WISCONSIN
On Oct. 30, faculty from the Madison Area Technical Colleges Part-time Faculty Federation (MATC), in association with the MATC full-time faculty unit, rallied at the Wisconsin state Capitol with the Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA) from the University of Wisconsin, Madison to introduce new legislation for part-time equity. The bill, which will be presented by state Sen. Gary George, would award pay equity and fair benefits to part-time instructors. The MATC locals and TAA together sponsored a speech by the high-profile political satirist Michael Moore, who talked about the current national move toward a temporary service economy that is hitting educators especially hard.

And last but certainly not least, a public "Freak Show" exhibit was displayed by the UW Teaching Assistants’ Association on Oct. 31, to summon widespread attention to the pay inequities and poor working conditions of teaching assistants at University of Wisconsin, Madison. TAA astounded passersby with such bewildering, yet informative, spectacles as the Tattooed TA, the World’s Smallest and Most Overcrowded Office, the Incredible Shrinking Pay Raise, and of course, the Oldest Limited-Term Employee on the Planet!