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Washington Watch: Who Wants to Be Elected?
By Ruth Flower
The slick political ads hype the candidates and tell us as voters more than we want to hear, and less than we want to know. To get to know a political candidate, there’s no substitute for a face-to-face meeting. Unscripted interaction at town meetings, shopping malls, and community gatherings can "tell all"—if we ask the right questions.
What follows are some higher education issues that members of Congress are likely to encounter in the next term. State legislators will deal with some of the same matters. Look for a town meeting or other opportunity to ask candidates about these issues. You may learn something interesting about their attitudes toward higher education, and you may be able to steer them toward second thoughts on some of their positions.
Support for Higher EducationThis country has a diverse collection of institutions of higher education, private and public, small and large, ranging from community colleges to research universities. What should Congress (or state legislatures) do to help maintain the quality and availability of higher education?
Support for Access to Higher EducationThe federal government provides 73 percent of all student aid; many low-income students depend on this aid to attend college. States provide additional support. How can Congress and state legislatures ensure that every qualified student has an opportunity to get a college education?
Support for ResearchCorporations invest in market-oriented research and realize profits from their investments. The federal government funds a significant portion of all basic academic research, including some research projects that will never result in marketable products. Should the federal government continue, increase, or decrease its investment in basic research?
Public Records versus PrivacyPublic funds pay for many benefits enjoyed by private individuals, including veterans’ job-training allowances, Pell grants for students, Medicare and Medicaid payments for health care, and support of research projects. To what extent does the public have a right to know about the details of these public expenditures?
Distance EducationMany universities and colleges are experimenting with new modes of teaching using electronic communications. Should the federal government or the states have a role in promoting, regulating, or learning from these experiments?
Collective Bargaining for ProfessionalsThe labor market no longer divides neatly into managers and workers. As we move into "the information age," a growing number of Americans will be professional workers who exercise some judgment about their work, but who do not control the conditions of that work. Should professionals, such as faculty members, be permitted to organize for collective bargaining?
CopyrightElectronic communications raise new questions about copyright laws, which have applied traditionally to written works, not works captured in electronic impulses. Congress has updated copyright laws to apply to digital works. Now what should Congress do to permit faculty "fair use" of copyrighted electronic materials for classroom applications?
EquityThough there’s been some progress, people are still treated differently on the basis of race, gender, age, nationality, and other group characteristics. Should Congress enact better laws to enforce fair treatment and to extend opportunities where they have been denied unfairly in the past? What role should states play in ensuring equity?
When the election is over, these questions will still be useful for your first meeting with the incumbent. Schedule an occasion on your campus for the new member of Congress or the new state legislator to meet with faculty and hear your concerns. For ideas on staying in touch with your representative, contact the AAUP government relations office for a copy of Professors on the Hill: An AAUP Guide to Lobbying Campaigns: (202) 737-5900.
Ruth Flower is AAUP director of government relations.
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