UMF AFT-AAUP Local 5671

@umfaft.bsky.social

The UMF AFT-AAUP Local 5671 represents all 160+ tenure track faculty members at the University of Michigan-Flint. umfaftaaup.org

$UMFAFT-AAUP Statement Regarding Recent Disciplinary Charges Against Student Protesters The UMF AFT-AAUP recently learned of new charges being brought against 10 student protesters, including both undergraduate and graduate students, under the Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR) on the Ann Arbor campus. We are deeply troubled by this news. Welive in a time when many are questioning the value and effectiveness of our nation’s democratic institutions. As we iterated in our October 9, 2024 op-ed in The Michigan Daily, universities must support the democratic fabric of society by cultivating freedom of expression and shared governance. Doing so ensures the effectiveness of our public good mission and serves as an example of democratic practice for society at large, especially in times like these. Unfortunately, the issuing of these new charges fits a broader pattern of doing the opposite. Since early 2024 we have seen, among other things, an institutional emphasis on punishing student demonstrators, sometimes months after their alleged infractions; unilateral revisions to the Student Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, including the weakening or elimination of protections for those facing charges under OSCR; and the hiring of third-parties to aggressively monitor and charge student protesters. While directed at students, these actions affect all members of the university community, putting us at risk of surveillance, chilling speech and civic discourse, and undermining faith in the university’s commitment to fairness and due process. Wecall upon the university to reverse this pattern and to recommit to democratic principles in these matters. This, minimally, would begin with withdrawing the recently issued charges against student protesters, and refraining from bringing such charges in the future, at least until the checks needed to protect freedom of expression and due process are restored to OSCR and all other processes affecting student discipline acros…$