A series that runs every Tuesday, where I ask questions unrelated to the environment, fair trade, or local politics that I’ve been wondering about but haven’t been able to google the answers to. Any advice is appreciated.

Yes, I know the Qs are late. Again.

But — I just got an email from the USC Staff Assembly letting me know that they’re sponsoring two USC Earth Day events. I have no idea how I got on their list, but I’m even more curious as to what the USC Staff Assembly is.

This is the info on the website:

The Staff Assembly is an officially recognized part of the University governance system and exists to contribute to the success of the University of Southern California and to the growth and welfare of its staff employees. The Assembly is comprised of 60 members plus the immediate past-president. Members of the Staff Assembly come from the University Park and Health Sciences campuses and represent both non-exempt and exempt employees. The Staff Assembly does not represent any employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement (union employees). Assembly members are elected by the staff of the university to serve two-year terms.

Which makes me wonder — Is this type of org common in colleges and universities, or more specifically, private colleges and univs?

And most importantly, is this org anti-union?

If no one has any clue as to what function this type of org serves, exactly, I’ll try contacting them. As a first step, I’m just wondering if others are as puzzled as I am as to why something like the USC Staff Assembly exists in the first place…

Update, 4/16/06: Reader Meg emailed to let me know that many univs. have something like a Staff Assembly, intended as an analog to the faculty senate. Union members can’t be reps in the Assembly cuz many unions don’t t allow their members to be involved in other forms of governance, as a conflict of interest thing.

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