September 9, 2021

FSU Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

September 9, 2021 (Hybrid Meeting: ISC 1400 and Zoom)

Executive Committee Members Present: Steve Striffler; Caroline Coscia; Lynne Benson; Dana Commesso; Monique Fuguet; Sana Haroon; Jessica Holden; Travis Johnston; Meghan Kallman; Linda Liu; José Martinez-Reyes; Jeff Melnick; Tim Sieber

Others Present: Lorenzo Nencioli (FSU Membership Coordinator); Katie D’Urso (MTA rep); Joe Ramsey; Thomas Pyle Johnson

1. Approval of the agenda and the minutes of the May 7 Executive Committee meeting and the August 13 e-vote on the FSU Statement for a Safer Return to Campus: Motion to approve the agenda and minutes, with an amendment to the agenda (move item on HELU after item on AFRs). Motion seconded. Motion passes unanimously.
   
    
2. FSU Committees: Need to confirm/approve multiple committee volunteers. Motion to approve names on a list provided by Steve Striffler (see below). Seconded. Motion passes unanimously. Recommendations for Grievance Committee member? Gillian MacNaughton is no longer on the committee.
   
    
3. Parking Bargaining: The West Garage is filling up in the mornings and people being sent to Bayside. Students were not included in the union parking survey. Shuttle buses have been packed. Bayside parking goes away June 2022. After it closes, all parking will be on campus and will have a higher rate.
   
    
4. AFRs: FSU/DCU/Faculty Council sent a letter to the new Dean of Faculty and the Provost about an AFR one-week extension.
5. HELU (Higher Ed Labor United) – Endorsement & Organizing Opportunities: Motion to endorse HELU’s “Vision Platform” Statement: “This motion is for the FSU Executive Committee to endorse Higher Ed Labor United’s (HELU) ‘Vision Platform’ Statement. FSU’s endorsement will include 1) posting the Statement to FSU’s website and 2) emailing the Statement to members with supporting HELU documents.” Motion seconded. Motion passes.
   
    
6. FSU Forums: Forum this Friday, September 17 at 3:30: check-in to see how the first week of the semester went. Caroline is doing an upcoming training/educational forum on AFRs for NTT faculty. Parking coalition planning all union meeting 12:00-1:00 on Wednesday, September 29: parking issues, return to campus issues. Possible upcoming forum ideas:

• Forum on issues in higher education: overcrowded classrooms, shuttles, etc.
• Forum on the politics in media of being in a public union
• Forum on HELU/helping members connect with current state and federal opportunities to further cause of higher education
• Forum on status of NTT faculty: workload, involvement in departmental governance and curriculum development
• Forum ideas from last year: student evaluation issues, sexual harassment and misconduct policies, non-partisan academic freedom/politics in the classroom, Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

    7.  Department Meetings – check in: Scheduled meetings: Librarians (Jessica Holden), Sociology Department (Linda Liu and Jason Rodriquez)

 

    8.  Campus Safety Conditions – Faculty/Librarian Reporting (Monique): 36 responses to survey: most complaining about Wheatley 1^st floor and University Hall elevator and stairwell. No effort to enforce mask wearing in any location, including on shuttle buses. Overcrowding with no effort to mitigate density anywhere on campus. FSU can send out another email to encourage people to fill out the survey. FSU needs to confront the Administration on this issue.

 

   9. Ventilation Testing/Campaign: FSU had a good meeting with MTA attorney on ventilation. There is an information request on the details of ventilation in each building. Based on the results of that request, FSU can come up with plan for what to ask university to do. FSU might coordinate with PSU and CSU: FSU has an MTA consultant coming in to test air quality (grant funded); PSU and CSU could also apply for the grant in order to test more spaces on campus.

 

   10. Actions – Informational Picket?: Caroline reached out to student government president regarding parking. FSU should engage with students on safety issues and encourage students to email the Chancellor and Provost with their concerns.

 

   11. Fall Semester Check-in: Caroline: Cashier had no change in their till. No ready-to-go meals. Multiple cafes not open. Jeff: Hard to get outdoors on campus. Faculty cuts and high course loads. Tim: FSU submitted FOIA request to the Administration for ten years of lawsuits and other complaints that were settled without publicity in relation to faculty who claimed mistreatment regarding race and other protected statuses. Almost all are racial discrimination cases. The Administration responded that this would cost $1200 for ten years of data. FSU asked for five years instead and the Administration said that would cost $1000. FSU could ask for an itemized list of costs and/or challenge the cost through Attorney General’s Office. Could we collaborate with local civil rights organizations?

MEETING ADJOURNS