LOCAL)SATE
The Michigan DailIk-Thurslay, November 21, 1996 - 5A
.6
Cal fornia
TAs strike
on five
campuses
By Janet Adamy
Daily Staff Reporter
Although teaching assistants at the
1University of California at Berkeley
yesterday called the first day of their
strike for collective bargaining rights a
success, Berkeley administrators dis-
akreed.
Lily Khadjavi, president of
Berkeley's Association of Graduate
Student Employees, estimated the
strike canceled about two-thirds of
classes and affected thousands of stu-
dents.
"I'm very excited by what we saw
today' Khadjavi said. "I'm sad that it
came to this but I'm also excited that
people are worried about ,how condi-
tions are determined at the university
and are out on the picket lines to
demonstrate that."
Berkeley is the third of the
California state schools at which TAs
have organized a strike protesting the
university's refusal to recognize their
collective bargaining rights.
Khadjavi said teaching assistants
were successful in forming picket lines
around campus buildings and solicited
more than 1,000 signatures on peti-
tions. Members of AGSE, the United
Auto Workers and others spoke at an
hour-long campus rally held at noon.
* Joseph Duggan, associate dean of
the graduate division at Berkeley, said
many classes may have met off campus
and estimated that only 1 to 2 percent
of classes were cancelled as a result of
the strike.
"As far as I'm concerned, the intel-
lectual work of the university is still
gbing on and that's what's important,"
Duggan said.
Deborah Herrington," manager of
labor relations for Berkeley, estimated
there were a maximum of 100.people
picketing.
"We're not seeing that much effect at
this point in time" Herrington said.
"Business is occurring on campus as
usual."
Khadjavi called the 1 to 2 percent
e~timate "absurd," and said it was "not
business as usual to have a picket on
campus."
Duggan said the strike has not
changed the stance of the administra-
tion on granting teaching assistants col-
lective bargaining rights.
"We're not going to recognize gradu-
ate student instructors representing our
institution for collective bargaining
rights, no question," Duggan said.
Sue Sierra, a University gradate
student instructor in math, said a strike
would have a serious effect on classes
*at any university.
"The contact hours with undergradu-
ates are even higher at Berkeley, so I'd
expect (the strike) to be quiteeffec-
tiVe."
After her third day of striking,
UCLA graduate student Joanna Brooks
said yesterday members of Los
Angeles' Student Association of
,Graduate Employees have strengthened
this week. Brooks said she expects to
see almost 1,000 workers serve time in
*the picket lines by the end of the week.
"The students we speak to are sup-
pprtive'" Brooks said. "They under-
stand that their learning conditions are
our working conditions."
Joel Beeson, Association of Student
;Employees student organizer at
University of California at San Diego,
said the organization is really feeling
"buoyed" by support for the strike,
;including letters from the Rev. Jesse
Jackson and the University's Graduate
Employees Organization.
"Even if it hasn't shut down the uni-
'versity it has caused a lot of students to
discuss the issue in their classes,"
Beeson said.
Berkeley sophomore Shin-Wha
Whang said she doesn't think students
are taking the strike seriously.
"I think that everyone wants the
teaching assistants to be happy but will
*always put their own initiatives first,"
Whang said. "I support them, but my
grades and school work are always
first."
Sierra said she thought the Berkeley
strike would go quite well, judging by
=student unions' successes on the other
C4Iifornia campuses.
"They're really committed to this
and want what we've had here at
Michigan for 22 years," Sierra said. "I
think they're perfectly capable of doing
that"
..,fy 4:i"-i:r
Neal elected to Ford exec. board
By Jeff Eldridge
Daily Staff Reporter
At last week's regents meeting, interim University
President Homer Neal talked about the need to con-
nect research benefits to the private sector.
Neal will now have the first-hand experience of
linking his research and technological expertise to one
of America's biggest corporations - Ford Motor Co.
The automobile company elected Neal to the Board
of Directors last Thursday, a move that was announced
Tuesday afternoon.
"He brings a unique perspective," said Chris
Vinyard, a Ford spokesperson. Vinyard said Neal's
"experience in science and research" will be a strong
asset to the board.
"It's helpful to have somebody on the beard with
that experience and background," Vinyard said.
Prior to serving as interim president, Neal was chair
of the physics department and vice president for
research. He currently serves on the board of the
Smithsonian Institution.
Vice President for University Relations Walter
Harrison said Neal would bring several qualities to Ford.
"I think he's very attractive to them on a number of
fronts," Harrison said. "He has a great deal of experi-
ence in public policy, especially in research and devel-
opment."
Ford will pay Neal at least $69,000 a year. Neal cur-
rently receives just over $260,000 for serving as pres-
ident but will likely finish his term by the middle of
ne t year.
Harrison said former Presidents James Duderstadt
and Harold Shapiro both sat on corporate boards. "I
think it's pretty widespread," Harrison said.
"Obviously, the more prestigious the University or
college, the more likely you are to be approached."
Vinyard said the responsibility of the board is to
assemble management personnel and direction.
"They're the final say in determining management,"
he said.
Most members of Ford's Board of Directors work in
business. However, Clifton Wharton, former president
of Michigan State University, sits on the board too.
Alex Trotman, chair and CEO of Ford, said in a
written statement that Neal will contribute to the bal-
ance of the board members' talents.
"Technical expertise is vital to the success of our
company, and the board has acted to add a highly
skilled, technical person, with a deep and thorough
understanding of research and development'Trotman
said. "Dr. Neal is an excellent addition to our board."
JOSH BIGGS/Daily
Homer Neal, interim University presi-
dent will soon join the Ford board.
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