There are countless budget problems in higher education these days and because of this people are frustrated, disheartened, angry, and increasingly defensive. Each institution that is dealing with budgetary issues has a slightly different governance structure, various levels of shared governance, and processes for making difficult budget decisions. With that said when difficult budget cuts become a reality the best way to help yourself (and others) is to try to be positive and have constructive dialogues and when commenting on the situation, try not be absurd.
In a December article about budgetary issues at Cooper Union, the following is a statement by
a member of the 18-member panel looking to avoid financial complications at Cooper Union (other words were used besides complications) :
"Asked if he thought the administrators were trying to sabotage the majority’s work, Drogin replied, 'It’s a shame there’s evil in the world.'"
When I think of budgets, higher education, and elite institutions in Manhattan, I do not think of evil and using this term to describe an internal political issue at Cooper Union is absurd. There are many, many, many instances of what could be describe as evil all around this world, but a competing budgetary plan written by administrators is hardly ‘evil’. Are the students and faculty going to be taken out on the street of Cooper Square and E. 6th Street and be shot by the administrators? No; that is evil and this type of evil unfortunately does exist in the world.
In an article about Colorado State University-Pueblo, a professor of Sociology recently implied a comparison of the upcoming budget cuts and potential job losses to the 1914 Ludlow Massacre.
I don’t even know where to start but comparing budget cuts to a horrible conflict in 1914 where men killed each other and women and children lost their lives just because they were caught in the middle is absurd. The article quickly commented on the professor’s intention:
“He went on to say that, just like a century ago, those without power were being mistreated...His call to action was to urge people to oppose the cuts and attend a rally against them.
I agree that as a professor he can call for people to rally against mistreatment and budget cuts at Colorado State-Pueblo and that he is a passionate person. But sending an email to students and faculty members using such metaphors goes a bit beyond artistic or academic licence; comparing budget cuts to murder goes too far.
The other part of this story that is interesting is the comment on academic freedom.
“But aside from the debate over the budget cuts, Friday's action has infuriated faculty leaders, who say it is a violation of academic freedom, and a clear example of retaliation against a professor for speaking out against the administration.”
How is an email opposing budget cuts at your place of employment academic freedom? The email sent is not related to the professor’s teaching, writing, or research; it is related to his non-academic work life. I am 100% in favor of academic freedom but faculty members and faculty advocate groups cannot use academic freedom as a catch-all when they disagree with something; it dilutes the power and importance of academic freedom and confuses the general public (whom you are trying to gain support).
The unknowns at Cooper Union and Colorado State-Pueblo is how shared governance played a role in these two situations. Were faculty representatives included in the budget discussions? Were they listened to? Did the faculty fully participate and offer workable solutions? Did administration go rogue and just decide without consulting faculty members?
My only suggestion in situations like Cooper Union and Colorado State-Pueblo is to not be absurd when arguing your case. If you go to the absurd you lose your ability to effectively communicate, your position becomes blurred, you lose the ability to relate to others, and you lose the ability to persuade.
No comments:
Post a Comment