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Leaders Pass Resolution Supporting WIU Faculty and Librarians

kskoirchet

During the January 2025 House meeting, the House of Delegates voted unanimously to support the below resolution in support of our colleagues at Western Illinois University.



Resolution in Solidarity with Librarians and Faculty Members of Western Illinois University


WHEREAS, librarians play a critical role in higher education by managing the intellectual infrastructure that supports teaching, research, and learning; and


WHEREAS, librarians as faculty members are integral to fostering information literacy, maintaining academic resources, providing scholarly expertise, and ensuring equitable access to knowledge for students and faculty alike; and


WHEREAS, the dismissal of librarians as faculty members undermines the educational mission of institutions by depriving the academic community of essential contributors to student success and faculty scholarship; and


WHEREAS, librarians not only curate and organize collections but also collaborate with faculty across disciplines, engage in classroom instruction, and lead efforts to promote critical thinking and ethical use of information; and


WHEREAS, the decision by Western Illinois University to eliminate 89 positions, including all librarian faculty members, represents a grave disservice to the students, faculty, and staff who rely on these services and expertise; and


WHEREAS, this decision reflects broader systemic challenges in higher education funding and prioritization that threaten the integrity and sustainability of academic programs; and


WHEREAS, the dismissal of all librarians and other faculty members at Western Illinois University was unfair and dismissive of their invaluable contributions to the university community; and


WHEREAS, these layoffs are not isolated but part of a broader trend that endangers the viability of public higher education in Illinois and beyond;


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600, stands in solidarity with the librarians and faculty members who lost their positions at Western Illinois University; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Union acknowledges the essential contributions of librarians as faculty members who uphold the intellectual infrastructure of higher education, from classroom instruction to information curation, and calls upon all stakeholders to recognize and defend their indispensable roles; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Union extends its support to all 89 individuals impacted by the layoffs, recognizing the profound personal and professional losses they have endured; and


BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Cook County College Teachers Union commits to advocating for robust funding for public higher education, equitable treatment of academic professionals, and the recognition of librarians as faculty members essential to the mission of higher education.


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