by P.D. Lesko

WHEN VISITING ROME, Italy, one notices the letters S.P.Q.R. on most every modern drain cover. The correct Latin translation is, of course, "Senatus Populus Que Romanus," or "The Senate and People of Rome." I once asked a group of Italian friends whether the "and" in that phrase implies a united group, or rather that the Senators put their interests first, and dragged along the People for the bumpy ride. The debate lasted well into the night and through several bottles of wine.

In this issue's "News" section, you will read (if you haven't already) about the result of a recent faculty senate vote at Elgin Community College, in Elgin, Illinois. There is no debate over the meaning of "Senate and People" in this story. The full-time faculty in the Senate voted to ratify a new contract that strips the college's 542 adjuncts of the opportunity to self-insure under the auspices of the school's health insurance plan. Fewer than 120 senators accepted a contract, which may result in incalculable harm, to the part-time faculty currently covered under the college's health insurance policy.

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