MU-AFT constitution debated

Members of the Marshall University American Federation of Teachers (MU-AFT) made no final decisions Thursday concerning their proposed constitution.

The meeting in Corbly Hall was scheduled to allow members to debate the proposed constitution.

The union needs to approve a constitution before it can receive an official charter from the West Virginia American Federation of Teachers.

MU-AFT Vice Chairman and professor of psychology Joseph W. Wyatt said, "This meeting is not to decide on a constitution, but to discuss it and try and get us closer to a vote."

The main issue of debate was whether the union would operate under one treasurer or two.

Wyatt said operating under the two-treasurer option could possibly increase staff member's dues and in turn cause the union to lose members.

"I think the two-treasurer system will pull the union apart," Wyatt said.

"We have to decide how we want to operate. If we are going to be one union we need to have one treasurer."

Former Interim Treasurer Drema S. Stringer said, "It's not an easy job."

Because faculty and staff pay different dues, Stringer said she feels the two-treasurer system would work better.

"We should have one (treasurer) to deal with faculty dues and one (treasurer) to deal with staff dues," Stringer said.

Stringer said members pay their dues in a variety of ways, which can add to the difficulty of the job.

Members can pay dues by check or cash, or have them deducted from their payroll check.

In addition, members can pay quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

Marshall University Faculty Chairman and professor of English Edmund M. Taft said, "We are having a difficult time finding even one person who wants to be treasurer, and even more trying to find two."

Turnout for the meeting was affected by a time conflict with Faculty Senate, Taft said.

"We have members that are a part of each group."

Taft said a backup meeting will be scheduled soon to allow for more people and more feedback.