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ELON — Adjunct professors have won the latest round in the debate over a union at Elon University.

A National Labor Relations Board hearing officer in Winston-Salem on Monday recommended that the labor board's regional office reject the objections filed by Elon University after adjuncts voted in March to form a union.

In a statement, Elon adjunct Catherine Bush said Tuesday she was "thrilled" with the decision.

“Our entire community looks now to our leadership to honor Elon’s stated mission to 'encourage freedom of thought and liberty of conscience,'" said Bush, an assistant professor of biology and a leader of the unionizing effort. "We are ready to begin productive negotiations that will lead to improvements in our working conditions and our students’ learning environments."

The university on its website said it has until May 28 to appeal the hearing officer's recommendation but did not say if it planned to file any objections.