Saturday, July 26, 2025, 11:58PM | 
MENU
Advertisement

Empower adjuncts

Empower adjuncts

Daniel Kovalik's piece about the death of Duquesne University adjunct professor Margaret Mary Vojtko reveals sorrowful poverty and addresses the issue of adjunct faculty unions ("Death of an Adjunct," Sept. 18 Perspectives). In reply, the director of campus ministry, the Rev. Daniel Walsh, stated that Duquesne priests extended abundant charity toward Ms. Vojtko ("Duquesne Offered Aid to an Adjunct in Need," Sept. 19 letters). These commentaries reveal that both Mr. Kovalik and the Rev. Walsh acted charitably toward her. But Ms. Vojtko's case illuminates another point emphasized in Mr. Kovalik's op-ed: the ethical need for universities to accept adjunct unions and thereby empower them to negotiate for livable salaries and benefits.

This need is recognized by the Catholic Church's anti-poverty and pro-union proclamations and exemplified by Catholic Georgetown University's statement that it respects the rights of its adjunct professors "to freely associate and organize, which includes voting for or against union representation without intimidation, unjust pressure, undue delay or hindrance in accordance with applicable law" (Beth Griffin, Catholic News Service, Aug. 12).

Mr. Kovalik might have inquired further about Duquesne's support for Ms. Vojtko. But it was also wrong for the Rev. Walsh to claim that Mr. Kovalik is "exploiting" her death. In advocating empowerment along with charity, Mr. Kovalik is following his ethical convictions and those of many Catholic institutions. Moreover, Ms. Vojtko was a union advocate and her nephew indicated to Mr. Kovalik that supporting unionization was a way she would have wanted her death memorialized.

Advertisement

I and many of my colleagues at Duquesne support adjunct unionization and hope that our institution will follow the path set by Georgetown University.

FRED EVANS
Point Breeze

The writer is professor of philosophy at Duquesne University.


First Published: September 23, 2013, 4:00 a.m.

Advertisement
RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
A huge Canadian flag carried by a crowd in Montreal in 1995, before a referendum on Quecec’s independence. Dennis Jett suggests Pennsylvania do the same in reverse.
1
opinion
Dennis Jett: Pennsylvania should become part of Canada
There is a large covered porch at the front of the house at 115 Forest Hills Road in Forest Hills.
2
life
Buying Here: Forest Hills home in its own 'mini-forest' listed for $425,000
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws a touchdown pass to DK Metcalf during Steelers Training Camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe on Friday, July 25, 2025.
3
sports
Steelers training camp observations: Aaron Rodgers, receivers bring 'wow' factor to Day 2
Several houses are shown along N. Dallas Avenue near Penn Avenue in Point Breeze with “For Sale” signs in the front yard, Friday, March 21, 2025.
4
business
A cooling market and patient buyers are causing many Pittsburgh home sellers to cut their prices
A woman charged under the name Shannon Nicole Womack is accused of using fake names, fake references and fake credentials at staffing agencies to secure nursing jobs across Pennsylvania and beyond. Pennsylvania State Police urged health care providers across the state to check their records and study the woman’s photo to help identify other facilities she might have duped.
5
news
Pittsburgh 'fake nurse' linked to 5 more Pennsylvania facilities
Advertisement
LATEST opinion
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story