Cornell Chronicle Volume 14, Number 4 Thursday, September 16, 1982 A tour guide demonstrates the art of walking backward and pointing out places of interest on campus. Ezra Cornell's statue on the west side of the Arts Quad is in the background. Tours are conducted daily from the Information and Referral Center in Day Hall. AFSCME Petitions to Represent Security Officers Cornell Seeks NLRB Secret-Ballot Election etarrne11 nas informed tne American Fed- Gurowitz, acting director of university sons, " said Cecil L. Murphy, director of consider the petition, after which it may Em ?n of state' County and Municipal personnel services, Nicholas F. Pinto, staff employee relations. hold a hearing to consider any questions j-pPP'oyees that the university will not representative from AFSCME, said the "First and foremost, a secret ballot concerning the bargaining unit, he con- f^°gnize AFSCME as the representative union has filed a petition for certification election insures that employees have the tinued. If it is appropriate, the NLRB may o or opportunity to exercise their freedom of ba{f nell security officers without a secret with the NLRB to be the exclusive bargain- schedule and conduct a secret ballot elec- °l election conducted by the National ing agent for some 70 Cornell security choice. tion. ' Relations Board. employees employed by the Department of "Second, authorization cards may be 10 letter to William D. Public Safety and the Herbert F. Johnson signed by employees who are unaware of Museum of Art. the full implications of their signature. For example, the authorization cards of some In his letter, Pinto also asked that Cor- unions may be worded in a way that Board Report nell recognize AFSCME as the bargaining permits recognition of the union as the agent of the employees without an election collective bargaining agent without a se- To Be Printed conducted by the NLRB. cret ballot election. The first report of the Board Study "It is the position of Cornell...that mat- "Third, having an NLRB-conducted elec- ters concerning union representation be Committee of the University Board of tion allows time for the university to Trustees, concerning composition of resolved through the secret ballot election provide information on the subject and to procedure established by the (NLRB)," the board, will be printed in the Cornell answer employee questions. This gives Chronicle next week. Gurowitz said in response on Sept. 14. employees time to consider both sides and "The National Labor Relations Act in- make an informed, free choice on their It is being printed for the informa- own." tion of community members before the cludes a procedure for employees to de- board begins deliberation of the report termine union representation by means of a Cornell has not yet been notified by the at its October meeting. secret ballot election, and Cornell feels this NLRB of AFSCME's petition, Murphy said. is the appropriate method for several rea- The normal process is for the NLRB to 2 Thursday, September 16, 1982 Humanities Council Selects Six Postdoctoral Teaching Fellows Six postdoctoral teaching fellows are at Ether and Relativity and a spring seminar Cornell this fall under fellowships made on the Philosophy of Science. possible by a 1975 $1.2 million endowment In the second year of the two-year Melto* from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Fellowship appointment, Holland will Susan D. Amussen and Robert E. teach an English Department fall course on Blobaum in history and Robert A. Satire and a spring freshman seminar on Rynasiewicz in philosophy are the three Shakespeare and Politics. Neff will teach fellows selected this spring by the Cornell Music Department seminars this fall on Council for the Humanities to begin two- Intermediate and Advanced Tonal Theory- year appointments, according to Anna Viscomi will teach a fall English Depart- Geske, director of the program. ment freshman seminar on The Moderns They join Philip Holland, Severine Neff and in the spring a joint seminar in English and Joseph Viscomi who are Mellon Fel- and History of Art on the Art and Poetry ol lows now in the second year of their William Blake. appointments at Cornell. Applicants for the program are reviewed by Cornell humanities departments and final selections are made by the Council for the Humanities. Amussen is a 1982 graduate of Brown University. She has done work in early modern English and European women's history with focus on the history of women and the family. Approaching women's his- tory through the study of gender, she wrote her dissertation on "Governors and Gov- erned: Class and Gender Relations in Eng- lish Villages, 1590-1725." Amussen, who taught at this summer's Telluride program at Cornell, will teach a History Department fall seminar on Com- munities in Early Modern Europe and a spring freshman seminar on Gender in Early Modern Europe. Blobaum received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Nebraska in 1981. He holds research interests in the field of late 19th and early 20th century Polish labor history. On a Fulbright from 1978 to 1980, Ornithology Lab Publishes Blobaum was in Poland doing research on the role of Feliks Dzierzynski in the for- New 'Living Bird Quarterly' mation and consolidation of the social democracy of the kingdom of Poland and The Laboratory of Ornithology has "birders" to contribute. This is part of Lithuania. This fall, he will teach a History begun publication of a new magazine the larger mission and tradition of the Department seminar on Radicalism and devoted to the study of birds, The Laboratory of Ornithology—to act as Revolution in Europe, 1789-1917. Living Bird Quarterly. liaison between the amateur and pro- Rynasiewicz received a 1981 Ph.D. Color-illustrated and directed fessional ornithologist and to en- degree in philosophy from the University of toward everyone with an interest in courage people's interest and increase Minnesota. He specializes in the philosophy birds, the quarterly will feature their knowledge of living birds. of physics and comes to Cornell after articles and photographs on bird behav- The quarterly, which began publica- holding a fellowship in history and ior, habitat, conservation, art and re- tion in July, will be sent to laboratory philosophy of science at the University of search, and will be international in members and will replace its annual Pittsburgh. Rynasiewicz will teach a scope. The first issue, for example, publication, The Living Bird. Philosophy Department fall seminar on contains articles on the reproductive The Laboratory of Ornithology is the success of songbirds, the conservation only recognized institution of its kind in efforts of the International Crane the world. It was founded in 1957 by Foundation, the restoration to the eminent ornithologist and photogra- Maine coast of the Atlantic puffin pher Arthur A. Allen and pioneer bird It's back to booking again. population (part of which is shown on sound recordist Peter Paul Kellogg. the first issue's cover), and More information on the quarterly a direct-from-life color painting and and other activities of the laboratory story by artist and author Miksch Sutton. can be obtained by writing: Laboratory In addition to articles written by of Ornithology, Sapsucker Woods, professional writers and ornithologists, Ithaca, NY 14850. Telephone (607) Jobs the laboratory will encourage amateur 256-5056. The following job openings are new this week. Technician, GR18 (Biochemistry) For information on vacant positions listed in General Services previous issues of the Chronicle, contact Per- Animal Health Technician, GR18 (Clinical sonnel Staffing Services, 130 Day Hall. Cornell is Sciences/VetrCollege) (2) Cornell Chronicle an affirmative action employer. Aninal Attendant, SO18 (Avian & Aquatic Professional/Administrative Animal Medicine) Research Support Specialist I (Div. Nutri- Maintenance Mechanic, GR24 (Buildings & tional Sci.) Properties, Geneva) Editor, Randall E. Shew. Staff writers, H. Roger Segelken, Robert W. Smith, Barbara Jordan- Animal Health Technician, GR18 (Clinical Smith, Martin B. Stiles, Photographer, Sol Goldberg, Circulation Manager, Joanne Hanavan. Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning De- signer (Facilities Engineering) Sciences/LAC Isolation Facility) (USPS 456-650) Part-time Published weekly during the academic year and once each in June and August. Distributed free Clerical Secretary, GR18 (University Relations—News Library Associate (Ornithology) of charge to Cornell University faculty, students and staff by the University News Bureau. Mail Sales Assistant, GR17 (Chemistry) subscriptions, $13 per year. Make checks payable to Cornell Chronicle and send to Editorial Bureau) Administrative Assistant/Secretary, GR18 Academic Office, 110 Day Hall, Ithaca, NY. 14853. Assistant Librarian (Interlibrary Services Telephone (607) 256-4206. (American Indian Studies) Secretary, GR17 (Law School Dept./OlinLib.) Second-Class Postage Rates paid at Ithaca, NY. Professor, Latin (Dept. of Classics, College"' POSTMASTER. Send address changes to the Cornell Chronicle (USPS 456-650), Cornell General Services Laborer, U201 (Utilities) Arts and Sciences) University, 110 Day Hall, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853. Head Custodian, SO18 (Buildings & Grounds The Job Opportunities list is mailed to all It is the policy of Cornell University actively to support equality of educational and employment Care) Cornell departments. In addition, it is posted i« opportunity. No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity or be Material Handler, SO16 (Statier Inn) the following places: Day Hall Information De**' denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not Dish Machine Operator, SO16 (Statler Inn) second floor lobby; at the Circulation and Refei" limited to, such factors as race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, age or Technical ence Desks of all university libraries; in the M«P Technician, GR22 (Biochemistry, Molecular & and Newspaper Section, Olin Library; all college handicap. The university is committed to the maintenance of affirmative action programs ce which will assure the continuation of such equality of opportunity.