The Faculty Consultative Committee, as the elected leadership group for all of the faculty of the University, recognizes that there are divergent faculty views about the desirability and wisdom of collective bargaining. The Committee, therefore, has concluded that it, as a committee, should take no position on whether the faculty should support or oppose the collective bargaining effort that is under way. Indeed, the views of Committee members may reflect those of the faculty at large: some support the unionization effort, others oppose it, and some are ambivalent about it.

The Committee also notes, with respect to its stance of neutrality vis-a-vis collective bargaining, that it is supported by University funds and staff. It would be improper for the Committee to use those University resources either to support or to oppose collective bargaining. While individual members of the Committee are free to make their views known, the Committee should take no position.

Irrespective of the views of our colleagues, and ourselves, about collective bargaining, the Faculty Consultative Committee is extremely concerned about the danger to the University that has been posed by the threats to academic freedom in the recent proposals from the Board of Regents to amend the tenure code. The Committee remains committed to opposing any actions which will endanger academic freedom and, thereby, the academic quality and strength of the University of Minnesota. The Committee also remains committed to supporting the tenure proposals presented in June to the Board of Regents by the Faculty Senate.

The present situation results from a threat to academic freedom and faculty governance, so the Committee has a responsibility to participate in discussions to resolve that threat. To that end, the chair and the vice chair of the Committee have agreed to participate in a coordinating group that includes two faculty members each from the American Association of University Professors, the University Faculty Alliance, and the "Group of 19." This coordinating group will work to ensure that the faculty present a unified, coherent, and consistent statement to the rest of the community about the value of the University and academic freedom.