OPINION & EDITORIAL
TAA opposes penalizing student protesters
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Mike Quieto:
Related Stories:
- Student strike or activism lite? (March 3, 2003)
- A statement on the departure of Dean of Students Alicia Chavez by The Badger Herald Editorial Board (January 11, 2002)
- From the desk of the editor: A different perspective (April 23, 2007)
- Examining The Badger Herald from outside (January 26, 2006)
by Mike Quieto
Tuesday, March 4, 2003
Yesterday’s Badger Herald ran a guest column by Ph.D. student Paul Manna urging TAs to penalize students for actions opposing war. Manna argued that this would in fact help their cause. Without weighing in on his very interesting definition of “support,” I would like to clarify the history of the TAA resolution.
Oct. 19, 2002, the Alliance of Graduate Employee Locals, a body of the American Federation of Teachers with which the TAA is affiliated, adopted a version of an earlier resolution by the California Federation of Teachers (AFT/AFL-CIO).
The AGEL resolution called on the AFT and its affiliates to adopt similar resolutions. The following day, the South Central Federation of Labor, the local AFL-CIO body of which the TAA is a member, adopted a resolution against war. The following week, the Wisconsin Federation of Teachers adopted an anti-war resolution based directly on the California Federation of Teachers’ resolution. Again, the resolution urged affiliates to adopt similar resolutions. It should be noted that this TAA policy has a history that significantly predates plans for a student strike on this campus.
The TAA is a democratically run union which requires such matters to be considered at a membership-wide meeting so that rank-and-file members can discuss and debate the issue. The meeting to consider our anti-war resolution was held Jan. 28 of this year. Manna was not in attendance.
In order to clarify any confusion, I would like to reiterate that TAA members are asked to make reasonable accommodations to hold students harmless for their participation in Wednesday’s student strike. For the information of the University of Wisconsin community and to prevent any further misunderstandings, I include the full text of the resolution in question.
Teaching Assistants’ Association, AFT #3220
Resolution Against War on Iraq, adopted by membership, Jan. 28, 2003.
Whereas, the United States and Britain have been bombing Iraq on a virtually continuous basis since the end of the Gulf War, and
Whereas, the Bush administration has presented no credible evidence that Iraq presents a threat to the United States, and
Whereas, the Bush administration is seeking any pretext to overthrow the government of a sovereign nation, in violation of international law, and
Whereas, a war with Iraq would require the re-direction of vital resources and funds to a destructive, senseless and illegal goal while further strengthening an administration that has restricted the civil liberties of its citizens, and
Whereas, this administration is using the so-called War on Terrorism to distract the American people from the vital issues they confront, and
Whereas, a war with Iraq would force working-class Americans, who are disproportionately represented in the armed forces of this country, to kill similarly exploited Iraqi citizens who have suffered as a result of international sanctions for over 10 years, and
Whereas, the Alliance of Graduate Employee Locals, of which the TAA is an affiliate, has urged the American Federation of Teachers and all AFT affiliates to adopt this position, and
Whereas, the Wisconsin Federation of Teachers has adopted a similar resolution, and
Whereas, the South Central Federation of Labor has permitted its name to be used in connection to the anti-war movement, and
Whereas, the TAA was founded in 1966 in part as an organization opposing war in Vietnam,
Therefore, be it resolved that the TAA goes on record as strenuously opposing the Bush administration’s march towards war with Iraq, and
Be it further resolved that the TAA urges its members to get involved in organizations working toward this end, and
Be it resolved that the TAA’s name and logo may be used in conjunction with demonstrations and publicity to that same end, and
Be it finally resolved that TAA members will refrain from penalizing students who participate in actions regarding the war, including students who are absent as part of an organized demonstration.
Mike Quieto is director of the TAA in Madison.
