I want to correct several crucial errors contained in the report on the EIU/UPI Agreement written by Lauren Mazurski in the Sept. 15 edition of The Daily Eastern News.

Ms. Mazurski states that an email was received by the DEN on Sept. 4 by UPI President David Radavich. First of all, I am no longer UPI President; that position is held by Dr. Charles Delman, who is a professor in the department of mathematics.

The email was specifically addressed to members of the faculty and academic support professionals, a communication with UPI members. It was not sent to the Daily Eastern News.

UPI did not file an unfair labor practice charge against the Eastern administration this summer. I expressed my hope that such a charge would not have to be filed. When the lawyer for the Eastern Board of Trustees agreed to restore language missing from the tentative agreement of March 2003, the disagreement was resolved.

Ms. Mazurski’s article also states that “the faculty will receive no salary increase” this year. That is not true. Faculty and academic support staff will receive a 2 percent basic increase for academic year 2003-04, plus individual merit increases and adjustments.

Achieving the new EIU/UPI agreement is a positive step forward for the university as a whole-not only for faculty but also for students, staff, administrators, and the larger university community.

Let us hope that the hardships we have endured during protracted negotiations can now be more fruitfully dedicated to academic enquiry and further development of this fine university.