Where You Snow Read It First 4/26 THE TUFTS DAILY Est. 1980 VOLUME LXVIV, NUMBER 20 THURsday, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 TUFTSDAILY.COM National health survey After unionizing, full-time faculty reissued to students prepare for next steps by Miranda Willson Once the DHPP collects the by Emma Steiner part-time adjunct faculty last fall, “As far as I knew there was no Contributing Writer survey results, they are sent to Assistant News Editor passed with a two-to-one margin mechanism in place to collectively the ACHA, where specialists cre- in favor of unionization, with over bring [issues] to the administra- The Tufts Department of ate an executive summary of the After officially forming a union 80 percent of full-time faculty cast- tion,” Gaudette said. “We felt that Health Promotion and Prevention data and return it to Tufts, Farrow on Feb. 12 and joining the part- ing a vote. collective voices are much stronger (DHPP) sent the National College explained. Farrow, Wong and time faculty in collaborating with Discussions about unionization and louder than single voices and Health Assessment (NCHA) sur- others at the DHPP are then able Service Employees International for full-time faculty began in the if enough of us felt that we weren’t vey to randomly selected under- to compare Tufts students’ data Union (SEIU) Local 509 through spring of 2014, according to Loh. being treated the way we should graduates earlier this week. to national data from other col- its Faculty Forward project, Tufts Initial meetings were held to gath- be treated, then if enough of us got The survey, designed by leges and universities, as well as full-time, non-tenured facul- er information and learn from the together perhaps we could make a the American College Health to previous years’ survey results ty are now preparing to begin experiences of part-time lecturers, case for ourselves … Unionization Association (ACHA), is sent to from Tufts to see which areas negotiating as a union with the who formed their union in the fall seemed to be the most logical step approximately half the under- of wellness are improving and university, according to Urban of 2014, he explained. in that direction.” graduate population at Tufts which need more attention. and Environmental Policy and “I believe that we have a right to The decision for unionization every two years to gauge health “In the past, Tufts’ results have Planning Lecturer Penn Loh. collectively bargain and that if we was not unanimous, however. At and wellness needs on campus. been closely in line with national “We have already started an exercise this right, we can come to least one-third of full-time faculty “The survey gives us a good data,” Farrow said. online survey of full-time lecturers the fairest and most effective solu- who voted do not feel that joining snapshot of the health status Farrow hopes to receive a to gather input on our priorities for tions for making Tufts the best it the union will increase benefits for of our campus,” Beth Farrow, a diverse sampling of students in negotiating a contract,” Loh told can be, while respecting the dignity themselves or students. health educator and prevention order to determine which demo- the Daily in an email. “We want and rights of those of us who work Anne Mahoney, a classics lectur- specialist at the DHPP, said. graphics are most affected by this process to be democratic and here,” Loh said. er, said that she feared a decrease in The survey, which is con- various health problems. open, as our process has been so According to Michelle Gaudette, opportunities for adjuncts due to ducted entirely online and takes “We’re hoping that this year we far. We believe the part-time lectur- a biology lecturer who was also the demands of the union. approximately 20 minutes for can do a more in-depth analysis ers union provides a good model involved in discussions about “It’s almost as if every progressive respondents to complete, cov- of the multiple years of data we for us, with a bargaining commit- organization, a union will allow person on campus hears ‘union’ ers five core issues: alcohol, have on this survey,” she said. tee that was open to all but that faculty members to more effective- and assumes it must be an unmiti- tobacco and other drug use; “For example, we might look at also sought representation from as ly discuss their needs with admin- gated Good Thing,” Mahoney told sexual health; weight, nutrition the nutritional data between many departments as possible.” istrators, particularly in relation the Daily in an email. “I fear that … and exercise; mental health; and males and females, between The decision, which followed to workload and equal treatment personal safety and violence. years in school, between races, a similar vote to unionize among across departments. see UNIONIZATION, page 2 Ian Wong, director of health etc., so we can see if there’s one promotion and prevention, population that’s doing better or encourages all selected students worse. That will tell us more spe- to complete the survey because cifically where we need to target the results often translate into our programming efforts.” new health and wellness pro- While the NCHA writes the grams for students, such as the survey questions, colleges and DHPP’s recent Balance Your Life campaign. see SURVEY, page 2 Second Fletcher Africana Conference to occur this Friday The second annual Africana dor to the United States and Conference at The Fletcher Antoinette Monsio Sayeh, the School of Law and Diplomacy, director of the International titled “Africa on a Global Monetary Fund’s (IMF) African Stage,” will take place this Department. U.S. Ambassador Friday, Feb. 20, running from to the Republic of Mali, Beth 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Leonard and Lee E. Dirks The conference, orga- Professor of Diplomatic History nized by the Fletcher School’s Alan K. Henrikson, will be mak- COURTESY TURNER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Africana Club, aims to under- ing opening remarks. A worker walks in the construction site for the new Science and Engineering Complex behind Anderson and stand and explore Africa’s role Most of the speakers were Robinson Halls on Dec. 19. in the international community. confirmed over winter break, It will feature four different Ndakorerwa explained. panels, according to Africana Ndakorerwa said she hopes Club Co-president Sabina students who attend the event Construction on new science and Ndakorerwa. Each panel will will gain a greater insight into have three to four speakers. what is happening on the The first panel will focus on African continent. engineering building continues security and foreign relations, She explained that this event the second on technology and is open to the entire Tufts com- by Sophie Lehrenbaum Halls and was deliberately ning of 2005, a new state-of- innovation, the third on gover- munity and that it will be a Assistant News Editor selected in order to promote an the-art integrated lab complex nance and the fourth on trade good opportunity to have dis- interdisciplinary and collab- has been … in the works,” and investment, according to cussion and meet new people Construction is under- orative approach to research. Stein said. the conference’s website. with similar interests. She also way to build the Science Construction will be complet- Stein further explained Ndakorerwa added that each added that it will provide net- and Engineering Complex ed by Turner Construction Co. that the need for more panel will have a moderator. working opportunities, which (SEC) on the Tufts Medford/ According to Strategic enhanced accommodations Speakers will introduce their she noted as a good benefit for Somerville campus. Capital Program Director was felt most profoundly with- point of view on the subject undergraduate students who The building, which is Barbara Stein, administra- in the biology department. of the panel, and at the end attend the conference. scheduled to open in 2017, tors had been planning to cre- Currently, biology labs are there will be the opportunity to “I want to highlight that this will house laboratories and ate a new building to house located in Dana Laboratory, involve the audience in an open is really a Tufts-wide event,” research facilities for disci- science and engineering class- a building Stein empha- discussion. she said. “It’s a great oppor- plines such as biology, chemi- rooms for years, far before she sized was primarily construct- According to the confer- tunity to have everyone come cal biology, civil engineering, assumed her position at Tufts ed to serve as a museum. ence’s website, the event’s together.” bio-medical engineering and two years ago. She described how time has keynote speakers include Her environmental sciences. “It was planned before the rendered the equipment antiquat- Excellency Amina Salum Ali, The construction site falls 2008 downturn and it didn’t ed and the facilities sub-optimal. the African Union ambassa- —by Meagan Adler in between Bromfield-Pearson, happen because of that down- Anderson and Robinson turn… [but] since the begin- see SEC, page 2 Inside this issue Today’s sections Tufts women’s basket- News 1 Editorial | Op-Ed 10 Tufts senior Theo ball will start its cam- Friedman serves luxu- paign for a second Features 3 Op-Ed 11 rious dinner for 11. NESCAC champion- Weekender 5 Comics 12 ship Saturday at home. Arts & Living 6 Sports Back see WEEKENDER, page 5 see SPORTS, page 16 2 THE TUFTS DAILY NEWS Thursday, February 19, 2014 Faculty express concerns about lack of choice under unionization UNIONIZATION their voice and changing their position continued from page 1 in the eyes of tenured faculty, rather than if union members insist on compensation for helping them strengthen their positions in ordinary faculty activities … then the logical the Tufts community.