Resolution in Support of AAUP Demands on University Administrators
Effective Date
Senate approved May 5, 2025.
Background
At the April 21, 2025, Faculty Senate meeting Senator John Bower (Fairhaven) presented a document with AAUP demands of university administrators and ceded his time to Jenny Forsythe (English), who talked about the work being done with colleges, departments, and unions in support of the demands. The request is for the Faculty Senate to vote in support of the demands as written with the understanding that the AAUP demands working group and allies are prepared to work on adapting them to the WWU campus context in due course.
Robert Sniderman (Fairhaven) read a statement regarding demand #7 in the AAUP document, regarding the refusal of overly broad definitions of antisemitism—including the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition. He referred to excerpts and read statements from the Not In Our Name Letter, which was recently sent to the University Administration.
A motion by Senator Sondra Cuban, and seconded, to include the draft resolution to endorse the AUUP demands as an action item at the May 5 Senate meeting passed unanimously.
Senate Action
On May 5, 2025, the Senate approved a motion in support of the AAUP demands by a vote of 23 yes, three no, and four abstentions.