Boston University
American ASSOCIATION OF
UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS
The BU chapter of the AAUP:
(1) supports the unionized BU graduate student workers in their negotiations with the university administration as they seek workplace protections and substantially higher stipends and benefits, commensurate with the cost of living in Boston, and
(2) urges full- and part-time faculty to use all lawful means to support the striking graduate student workers.
Statement of the BU chapter of the AAUP, March 29, 2024
The Boston University chapter of the AAUP was formally recognized in April of 2021. Its formation arose out of conversations BU faculty had been having amongst themselves for some time. The chapter's members identify with the core values of the AAUP, which champions shared university governance, academic freedom, and economic security for all instructional and research employees.
First Press Release, April 6, 2021: AAUP Chapter Established at Boston University
Daily Free Press, April 14: "BU AAUP recognized by national organization, begins reaching out to administration"
April 27: BU President Robert Brown met with AAUP Chapter Co-presidents, Mary Battenfeld and Daniel Star, who recommended to him that the university establish a Task Force on Faculty Governance and Transparency. Representing the BU chapter, Battenfeld and Star pointed out that BU has many university committees, task forces, and planning documents, but none of them focus on either protecting and strengthening faculty participation in university decision-making or transparency regarding rationales and data used when making decisions.
September 17: The AAUP Chapter Co-presidents met with Provost Jean Morrison.
All queries to be sent to our email address: aaupbu@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter: @aaupbu
We welcome queries from the media.
We encourage BU instructional and research employees to join our chapter's email list and come to our meetings.
Contact us to be added to our email list and be kept informed of upcoming meetings.
Steering Committee
Mary Battenfeld (Clinical Professor of American Studies, College of Arts & Sciences), Co-president
Neta Crawford (Professor of Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences)
Andre de Quadros (Professor of Music & Music Education, College of Fine Arts)
Roy Grundmann (Associate Professor of Film Studies, College of Communications)
James Iffland (Professor of Spanish & Latin American Studies, Pardee School of Global Studies)
Alicia Matz (PhD Student, Classical Studies, College of Arts & Sciences)
Jason Prentice (Senior Lecturer, Writing Program, College of Arts & Sciences)
Daniel Star (Associate Professor of Philosophy, College of Arts & Sciences), Co-president
John Straub (Professor of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences)
Merry White (Professor of Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences), Secretary-Treasurer
Communications Committee
Julia Carroll (PhD Student, American & New England Studies, College of Arts & Sciences)
Roy Grundmann (Associate Professor of Film Studies, College of Communications)
David Lyons (Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Law, Emeritus)
Pankaj Mehta (Associate Professor of Physics, College of Arts & Sciences)
Daniel Star (Associate Professor of Philosophy, College of Arts & Sciences)
Merry White (Professor of Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences)
Membership Committee
Mary Battenfeld (Clinical Professor of American Studies, College of Arts & Sciences)
Eva Garrett (Assistant Professor of Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences)
Laurie LaPorte (Lecturer, Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences)
Perri Meldon (PhD Student, American & New England Studies, College of Arts & Sciences)
Nathan Phillips (Professor of Earth & Environment, College of Arts & Sciences)
Shared Governance Committee
Aaron Garrett (Associate Professor of Philosophy, College of Arts & Sciences)
Jason Prentice (Senior Lecturer, Writing Program, College of Arts & Sciences)
Peter Schwartz (Associate Professor of German & Comparative Literature, College of Arts & Sciences)
Daniel Star (Associate Professor of Philosophy, College of Arts & Sciences)
Michelle Walsh (Lecturer, School of Social Work)
Jonathan Zatlin (Associate Professor of History, College of Arts & Sciences)
