Apparently the Wayne State University police department doesn't take kindly to certain kinds of education taking place on campus.  Today, officers threatened to arrest a member and the staff organizer of the Wayne State University Part-Time Faculty Union who were circulating a leaflet outside a university event. 

As we reported earlier, UPTF is in tough negotiations as WSU refuses to consider real job security for part-time faculty.  The leaflet calls UPTF supporters to call or write to "WSU President Irvin Reid and tell him that you support the fundamental right of job security for UPTF members." UPTF supporters might want to indicate to President Reid that they also support UPTF's right to educate the community without interference as well.

Read the full press release after the jump!

April 10, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Part-Time faculty members threatened with arrest at Wayne State University

Contacts:

Susan Titus:             313-259-1135 / 313-204-7971
Bryan G. Pfeifer:       734-355-4522
 
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DETROIT, April 10, 2008 – Before prominent author Bob Woodward's lecture this morning, a member of the Union of Part-Time Faculty (UPTF) at Wayne State University and the union's staff organizer were threatened with arrest.

"We find it extremely disturbing and ironic that we were threatened to be arrested for simply attempting to educate the campus community about our union at WSU, a public university," said Bryan G. Pfeifer, UPTF staff organizer.

With no initial conversation whatsoever, a Lieutenant from the WSU police department came upon the UPTF member and Mr. Pfeifer while they were walking through the foyer of the building adjacent to the auditorium where Woodward spoke. The member and Mr. Pfeifer had no leaflets in their hands when came upon by the lieutenant who stated that leaflet distribution could only take place on campus at "the Mall" and the union was to leave the building and the surrounding premises immediately or be arrested.

The UPTF informed the lieutenant that the union had every legal right to engage in leafleting. But the lieutenant proceeded to twice more threaten arrest while calling in other police reinforcements. At this time the UPTF member and the staff organizer decided to peacefully leave the building and set up a leafleting station outside the north side and other entrances to the building. When Mr. Pfeifer was leaving the building, the lieutenant, without permission, improperly placed his business card in Mr. Pfeifer's suit coat jacket pocket.

UPTF members and the staff organizer were at the Community Arts Bldg. at WSU April 10 to distribute informational leaflets about the UPTF to attendees of the Woodward lecture (see appended leaflet). The legal right to engage in this activity at WSU is clearly defined in the "Safety Awareness Handbook" issued by the WSU Police Department. At the time and place where the UPTF member and staff organizer were threatened with arrest, other organizations were selling Woodward's published material as well as distributing free literature.

While UPTF members leafleted outside they were closely monitored by security personnel.

"Threatening UPTF members in this manner is an unacceptable and unnecessary provocation and a serious blight on the university's campus community relations. Our rights were clearly violated and we intend to pursue redress. We hope that what took place today doesn't happen again," said Susan Titus, UPTF president.

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Union of Part-Time Faculty (UPTF) / www.uptf.org / 313-832-7902 / uptf@aftmichigan.org