Top College News Subscribe to the Newsletter

Letter to the Editor: Senior faculty members believe LWC is possible for employees

Published: Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Updated: Thursday, November 11, 2010 00:11

As senior faculty with long experience at Northwestern, we strongly disagree with your editorial in opposition to a living wage for campus workers. There is a long, long history of employers' and governments' arguments that, say, votes for women, or civil rights laws, or the 8-hour day, or regulations of working conditions, or clean air laws, or hate crimes legislation—and even minimum wage laws, in the first place—would "harm more than help" the people affected. Those arguments were always faulty, as is yours. Northwestern can afford to pay living wages to its poorest employees, employees who provide crucial services. And Northwestern, in paying a living wage, would improve its standing among like institutions, and increase our collective sense that we are part of an academic community that treats all its members with dignity.

—Martha Biondi

Associate Professor, African American Studies

—Micaela di Leonardo

Professor, Anthropology

—Jane Winston

Associate Professor, French and Italian

 

Recommended: Articles that may interest you

10 comments

Dagny
Sat Nov 13 2010 22:45
This argument is foolish, which is not surprising considering none of professors behind it are involved in hard science. How is this related to women's suffrage exactly? What exactly was the threat people claimed women's suffrage pose to women? I think people opposed women's suffrage because they didn't think women were as intelligent or as well informed as men, and therefore had no business voting, but it didn't have anything to do with the well being of women. Ditto for civil rights. You've just picked all the things you consider good things from history and said they are all the same because they are good. So you are trying to imply that people who don't support the living wage are the same people who didn't support women's suffrage and civil rights, and therefore they are sexists and racists. Rather than make an actual argument about the living wage you find it easier simply to brand its opponents sexists and racists, despite the fact that the living wage issue has nothing to do with sex or race.

It's not surprising that northwestern's professors support the living wage, in fact i'd be shocked if they didn't. But it is disappointing that rather than engage their students in discussion, they would rather try to suppress honest debate by implying that those against the living rage are racists.

Anonymous
Fri Nov 12 2010 15:06
African American Studies, Anthropology, French and Italian

None of these things have anything to do with Econ or common sense, so I'm just going to ignore this.

Another Donor
Fri Nov 12 2010 14:45
It is called "Fundamental Rot" -- when costs creep upward and income creeps downward - a virulent, nasty economic malady. Each Provost wonders just how much a faculty member is "worth" - each faculty member must be "worth it" - returns on investment in them must meet or exceed the actual cost of keeping them on the payroll. Matter of fact - each member on the payroll must justify taking money from the University. But - actions speak louder than words - if faculty members are so concerned - then increase their "worth" - by either lowering their salaries - or increasing their research production - or both. I have yet to see a faculty member lower their own salary to "help" the lower-wage earners - has never happened. So - they enjoy being hypcrites - giving lip service only or - their meaningless "signature" - They may be "fine faculty members" - but - are they "worth" it.
Anonymous
Fri Nov 12 2010 12:34
Amandla
Sam
Fri Nov 12 2010 12:13
Wonder what Dale Mortensen thinks... that's a professor's opinion I would trust.
@Donor
Fri Nov 12 2010 12:05
Like the workers, faculty members contribute to the Northwestern community. They teach students, do research, and publish, all of which both serve the goals of the community and bring prestige to the University. You have no right to tell these fine professors that they don't contribute. Additionally, students give hundreds of thousands of dollars to the University, which, under your rules, suggests that they should be listened to more than anyone. Well, over 1,500 have them have signed a petition in support of living wages.
Anonymous
Fri Nov 12 2010 11:13
"A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."
Donor
Fri Nov 12 2010 09:32
Dear Martha, Micaela & Jane. Noble - noble - very noble. How much do all your salaries cost the University each year? Just thought I'd ask - I've NEVER cost the University any money - ever. I contribute - you TAKE. If you're so committed - then take a pay cut & DONATE this money to the lower-wage earners. Which - of course - you won't. I've donnated services, money, time, effort & research to Northwestern with no strings attached and accepting no salary. You - certainly do not donate. So - tell us again how noble you really are.
Sam
Thu Nov 11 2010 09:47
Ha! Well that was convincing.
Anonymous
Thu Nov 11 2010 03:12
Thanks for all the perspective-altering insight...

This letter to the editor offers nothing new to the "living wage" discourse--it essentially just asserts that the Daily's editorial was wrong and nothing else.

Care to support your claims, including, for instance, that "Northwestern can afford to pay living wages"?







log out