I am not a political scientist, a sociologist,  or a historian, but I do believe I have a degree of insight about what is happening at USM from a political/sociological/historical   perspective. My belief is that the USM faculty have been suppressed over many years. It is not of recent origin. Many of the ameneties normally afforded faculty at other universities have not always been available to the USM faculty. No AAUP chapter. An ambiguous faculty handbook. Personnel actions which appeared to be arbitrary. Inequities in salary adjustments. No effective grievance or appeals system. The list goes on. With some exceptions, the faculty bit its tongue, turned it cheek, clinched its fist, walked away, and nodded its affirmative head out of fear and intmidation. The USM climate, intimidating for many years, has become more and more aversive. It has finally reached the tipping point. This board has cited many of the burdonsome  weights on the other side of the scale. The tip has occurred very fast, but the burdensome weights have been added gradually. Public statements made by current or former IHL members. Public statements made by USM administrators. The recent attempt to terminate two respected tenured faculty meetings. Erosion of shared governance. The list goes on. Other social or political movements have had their own tipping points. There were events leading to the so-called underground railroad. The participants could take no more, just as the faculty can take no more. And there were events preceeding school desegregation, and the other social events of the 50's and 60's. The list goes on.vAll of those social and political movements had their tipping point. There have been industries which, when they began to treat their employees shabily, were forced to fight off the a formal organization of those employees. So even companies have their tipping point. I do believe USM's treatment of its employees has reached its tipping point. And I do believe that a movement has been started which can not and will not be stopped. The faculty wants to be treated with dignity and respect. It is not asking for "special" favors - just the favors afforded normal faculty members at normal universities. A very naive analysis I have made, perhaps, but it is my analysis.