Union organizing promoted at UC

Citing the need for more influence in future contract negotiations and a stronger lobby at the statehouse, the executive board of University of Cincinnati's faculty union is pushing professors to join a larger state and national teachers union.

The executive board of UC's chapter of the American Association of University Professors voted this month to recommend affiliation with the Ohio Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers.

The AFT represents more college and university faculty than any other union nationwide, officials say.

All full-time faculty members who teach on the Clifton campus are invited to a question-and-answer session at noon today at the Events Pavilion.

"State aid to UC has been cut twice in less than two years, and we may face another cut in the near future," said John Brackett, president of UC's current union. "OFT has a more effective lobbying and grassroots legislative action program.

AAUP's contract with the university expires Aug. 31, 2004.

A vote to affiliate with the federation would not be one to dissolve the current union.

NKU professors face possible leave

By day's end, Northern Kentucky University officials are expected to know whether three professors in the business college will file formal grievances with the school's Faculty Senate after an investigation into their research placed them on mandatory leave.

Details of the misconduct allegations have not been made public, but university officials say Shailendra Verma, chairman of NKU's finance department, resigned after allegations surfaced that he and three other professors plagiarized and misrepresented research data.

The three on leave are Anju and Balasubramani Ramjee, a married couple who teach finance, along with Richard Snyder, an assistant economics professor.

"If they do file (file grievances), the Faculty Senate will hold an administrative hearing to hear what they have to say," said university spokesman Chris Cole. "If they don't, it stays on the desk of Provost (Rogers W.) Redding to make the final decision."

The complaint against the professors was filed about a year ago with Mike Carrell, dean of the business college.

Weather delays Liberty session

LIBERTY TWP. - Bad weather delayed a closed-door session of trustees scheduled for Monday until 6 p.m. today.

The meeting was arranged so Liberty Township trustees could discuss Administrator Nell Kilpatrick, according to Trustee Bob Shelley.

Kilpatrick has been on sick leave since Feb. 4,amid uncertainty about her future as administrator.

After the 6 p.m. private session, the regular trustee meeting will be held at the township hall, 6400 Princeton Road.

Baby alive after mom found dead

LEBANON, Ind. - A 2-month-old baby boy was alive but in critical condition Monday after police discovered him beside his mother's corpse.

Melissa York, 29, and her baby were found in York's apartment around 10:30 a.m., when a friend checked on them for family members. Police said York, who had been dead for three to four days, was last seen Thursday.

Wanted: More jail inmates

BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio - This Cleveland suburb hopes to reduce its financial problems by attracting more jail inmates.

City officials plan to use a grant to add 51 money-making beds to attract paying customers. The city has no need for the space.

Bedford Heights already rents out many of its 80 existing jail beds to Cuyahoga County and federal agencies.

- Compiled from staff and wire reports