C.L.--MSU presidential search to be secret - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Dec 19, 2005

C.L.--MSU presidential search to be secret

Date: Dec 19, 2005

So what? Is this an informational post, a jab at the IHL for showing "preference" to MSU, or what?

Date: Dec 19, 2005

ASF Patron wrote:

So what? Is this an informational post, a jab at the IHL for showing "preference" to MSU, or what?

It could be the poster feared that the USM search will also be secret. I know the Commissioner has promised to have input from all constituents, but that may mean a survey of interest rather than an evaluation of the candidates like the AAUP conducted during the last search. USM faculty should be concerned by this news.

Date: Dec 19, 2005

Reporter wrote:

MSU presidential search to be secret http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051219/NEWS/512190350/1002/NEWS

Reading this article and the articles in the H.A. has me wondering if the IHL is reducing the influence of the faculty in the search rather than expanding it.

Date: Dec 19, 2005

You can be assured that the majority will try to reduce the influence of all but the most influential leaders in the larger community. It's the way the anti-intellectual crowd do bidness.

Date: Dec 19, 2005

Good. Faculty input needs to be minimized. Those who want to have input need to find another place to work. I see this as a foreshadowing that Meredith is going to replace Thames with a hand-picked president that will call plays out of Meredith's playbook. Not out of the faculty's playbook, but Meredith's.

The days of 20 hours per week on campus are over for faculty. Keep telling us how your work can be done anywhere -- at home, in the field, etc. -- and I'll tell you that if it can be done anywhere then it should be done on the campus where students can have unlimited access to the "scholars" whose salaries they are paying. Get ready to punch a clock and put down your research to hold more office hours. Time to join the working world.

Date: Dec 19, 2005

Dear Horses*t:

Thanks for making my point.

Next?

Date: Dec 19, 2005

Horsecollar wrote:

Good. Faculty input needs to be minimized. Those who want to have input need to find another place to work. I see this as a foreshadowing that Meredith is going to replace Thames with a hand-picked president that will call plays out of Meredith's playbook. Not out of the faculty's playbook, but Meredith's.

The days of 20 hours per week on campus are over for faculty. Keep telling us how your work can be done anywhere -- at home, in the field, etc. -- and I'll tell you that if it can be done anywhere then it should be done on the campus where students can have unlimited access to the "scholars" whose salaries they are paying. Get ready to punch a clock and put down your research to hold more office hours. Time to join the working world.

I've known a lot of doctors, lawyers, architects, writers, etc. and I've never seen one of them punch a time clock.

Date: Dec 19, 2005

Horsecollar wrote:

Good. Faculty input needs to be minimized. Those who want to have input need to find another place to work. I see this as a foreshadowing that Meredith is going to replace Thames with a hand-picked president that will call plays out of Meredith's playbook. Not out of the faculty's playbook, but Meredith's. The days of 20 hours per week on campus are over for faculty. Keep telling us how your work can be done anywhere -- at home, in the field, etc. -- and I'll tell you that if it can be done anywhere then it should be done on the campus where students can have unlimited access to the "scholars" whose salaries they are paying. Get ready to punch a clock and put down your research to hold more office hours. Time to join the working world.

I suspect this may be a bit of wit, but I'll bite Horsecollar:

If I start punching a clock -- you won't be able to afford me. 70 hours + per week.

Date: Dec 19, 2005

You know, now that I think about it, I haven't punched a clock most of my career.

Date: Dec 19, 2005

Thanks to SJ for having the ability to discern some deeper meaning in my post than simple trollism.

We are now line workers in a factory that turns out college graduates. If we get handed inferior materials with which to work then we need to say nothing and keep making the donuts. When our product is exposed as terribly inferior, it will be too late to save the company.

Anybody who fancies themself a real scholar needs to be looking elsewhere for employment, because the factory is about to put the assembly line in high gear. No more time for research. No more time for professional development. Teach and do service. Kind of like a high school. I'll be taking tickets for the football games and serving popcorn at the concession stand when SFT outsources the athletics concessions to faculty members in lieu of raises.

By the way, Stephen, in SFT's world, you punch the clock for your 40 hours in the office or you get docked pay...not what you had in mind?

Date: Dec 19, 2005

Zap! Horsecollar, you got me. I nominate SJ as "Smart Person of the Evening."

(We've had this particular fight with trolls so often, guess I just went on autopilot.)

Date: Dec 19, 2005

LVN wrote:

You know, now that I think about it, I haven't punched a clock most of my career.

I punch the clock around 5:30 every weekday morning ... to cut off the alarm! Unfortunately it's usually already waked me up, so I get on up & go to work.

Date: Dec 19, 2005

Horsecollar wrote:

Get ready to punch a clock and put down your research to hold more office hours. Time to join the working world.

Horse, if the faculty did "hold more office hours" as you suggest, who do you think would come? Not many students, I can tell you that for sure. Would you drop by their offices from time to time just to make sure they were sitting at their desks playing solitare while waiting for the students to appear?

Date: Dec 19, 2005

Guys, ole Shelboo doesn't care whether or not students show up during office hours, that's not the point. It's all about his ability to control you, your time, your activity, your very life. If he can impose ridiculous rules and make you dance to his tune, it's immaterial whether students are affected for good or ill.