As the chapter president of UMPI's faculty union, I read William Coppola's article, "Students on Mission to Save Dave Putnam" (3/27/08), with some measure of interest.  I think it important, however, to clarify a statement made by Harrison Kilpatrick claiming that Prof. Putnam's "contract is expiring at the end of the semester and according to the law of the Teacher's Union, it leaves the administration few choices on what to do."  Faculty employment is governed by contract, achieved through negotiated bargaining between AFUM (the faculty union) and the University of Maine System (which represents "management," for lack of a better term).  Prof. Putnam currently holds what is termed a "fixed length appointment" of three years.  Such appointments are specifically designated for "approved leaves, replacement of unit members serving in administrative positions, position vacancies, experimental programs, or unanticipated enrollments."  When such positions expire, the institution is obligated (a) to terminate employment; (b) hold a nation-wide search for a tenure-track position if the program or enrollment warrants such a position; (c) consider a one-year appointment in a "lecturer" position (such positions are very common at Orono and USM, less so at the smaller campuses) that must be renewed annually (and does not hold any tenure status or protection).  The faculty union strongly advocates for full-time, tenure-track positions obtained by nation-wide, need-based searches.  The union does so for three reasons: (a) tenure-track positions provide the strongest degree of job security to individuals; (b) tenure-track positions provide the greatest level of stability for institutions, especially in regards to national and regional accreditation guidelines; (c) tenure-track positions protect faculty from the very situation outlined in Mr. Coppola's article concerning Prof. Putnam.  In cases of economic exigency, as are the current budgetary cuts demanded by Governor Baldacci, positions such as those held by Prof. Putnam are particularly vulnerable because such faculty members do not hold "continuing contracts" (meaning that there is no obligation to offer such faculty employment after their current contract expires).  Students should be aware that there are several faculty who carry such appointments and are thus in a similar situation, and each one is vital to the program he or she serves.  It is the faculty union's obligation to ensure that in such situations the terms of the contract are being scrupulously followed, to advocate for faculty positions whenever possible, and, most importantly, to take every possible contractual measure to ensure the academic well-being of the institution.