Union of Teaching Faculty congas for contractual negotiations with Central Michigan University

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Plastic bucket drums, tin-can shakers and chanting students and faculty members sounded out on Tuesday afternoon as a protest conga line snaked around Warriner Hall.

The 30- to 40-person-long procession was the latest demonstration by the Union of Teaching Faculty, a group of non-tenured professors on campus working to negotiate teaching contracts with the university for temporary faculty.

Jim Eikrem, assistant communication and dramatic arts professor and president of UTF, said Tuesday’s protest was the first demonstration conga line he knew of in the history of CMU.

“We wanted to look for something fun to get the word out, something that would involve people who are directly concerned with the rights of the faculty here, including those who are working as faculty, as well as the students,” he said.

Eikrem said conga lines originated from chained slaves in the Congo, who were made to walk in single file lines with their hands on each others’ shoulders.

The line started by moving from the Warriner Seal into Warriner Hall. After silently working through the building, the line raised its chanting again before being confronted by CMU Police Sgt. Riley Olson.

“(He) warned us that we couldn’t go through the building even though we were going through very peacefully and quietly,” Eikrem said, “and it is a public building.”

Olson said he did not have a real opinion on the proceedings.

“It’s just a question of whether or not it follows the guidelines of the university’s advocacy policy,” he said.

Eikrem said he and the rest of the line agreed to stay out of Warriner Hall and not to use megaphones.

Erin Fox, a communication and dramatic arts instructor, said she has been a temporary faculty member at CMU for three and a half years.

“I’m sick of low wages and job insecurity, especially when the unrestricted surplus assets are $220 million and could pay all of our paychecks for 20 years,” she said.

Fox liked the idea of a conga line protest because the nature of the dance is to draw in and involve draw spectators.

Ann Arbor senior Dan Crowley said he was one of the passersby drawn into the line. Crowley was walking across campus when he was asked by a professor to join in.

“Some of my favorite professors here have been temporary professors,” he said.

Eikrem said UTF will continue to protest and rally until a compromise is reached.

“We’re trying to draw attention to the fact that we’re in contract negotiations right now with the administration and we have made very little progress in recognizing some of the things that we think are very important,” Eikrem said.

Though negotiations have not made much progress, UTF members have seen a small amount of movement in some proposals. Eikrem said the UTF has recognized the need for a layoff system that is more fair.

The UTF meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday at the Education and Human Services Building to negotiate contracts with university administration.