Faculty group joins fray

The SIUE Faculty Association has joined SIUC faculty members in speaking out against the firing of SIU Carbondale Chancellor Jo Ann Argersinger.

Argersinger was fired by the SIU Board of Trustees June 6, just 11 months after she became chancellor. She was removed for not informing SIU President Ted Sanders of decisions, failing to meet performance goals and not backing the effort to consolidate purchasing for all SIU campuses according to statements made by Sanders.

Argersinger will remain on the SIUC payroll, receiving half of her $130,512 annual salary, a $27,000 housing allowance and $3,600 vehicle allowance. Argersinger, who was hired with tenure, will remain a part of the SIUC faculty and teach history.

The SIUE Faculty Association, an independent group, is concerned about the direction that SIU is going, according to Riley Maynard, a professor of mass communications. He said the university is more concerned with the bottom line and losing its educational orientation.

According to the SIUE association, university administration is undermining the autonomy of the departments. "Faculty Senate positions are being overturned or ignored and search processes are being taken away from departments," Maynard said.

The association is involved in an effort to unionize the faculty into the Illinois Education Association-National Education Association. Union representation will give SIUE faculty protection from abuses by the administration, Maynard said. "We are seeking a voice in running our own affairs at SIUE, and we would like to see things run in a more professional and collegiate manner."

The SIUC Faculty Association is represented by the IEA-NEA and has filed a grievance with that union concerning Argersinger's removal.

Legal counsel for Argersinger has taken action as well. According to Ron Osman, Argersinger's attorney, a suit filed Friday accuses the SIU board of trustees of violating the state's Open Meetings Act by deciding to fire her without a public vote.

Osman said a second suit, being filed this week, will address Argersinger's claim that the board and Sanders violated her contract..