A moment of reflection - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jul 28, 2004

A moment of reflection

Date: Jul 28, 2004

Thank God there is still those to believe in free speech. The AAUP and Fire Shelby sites have championed the cause.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

Is there anyone who has the FireShelby's Living Room analogy? If so, would you post it here?

Date: Jul 28, 2004

It has been a long summer!

I believe LVN is the author of the living room analogy. I also seem to recall that there was chips and spinach dip at the party.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: OutSider
"Thank God there is still those to believe in free speech. The AAUP and Fire Shelby sites have championed the cause. "

It appears that the terrible things the USM administration did to GS & FS, along with USM's in-your-face disregard for due process, shared governance, and other academic values, had a serendipitous effect: It provided the much needed catalytic agent for drawing the faculty together, and opening up meaningful communication among the faculty, in a manner not seen at USM in recent times - and, perhaps never seen at USM since its 1910 founding. I am very optimistic that USM will survive all of this, and as a much stronger institution. The establishment of an AAUP chapter, albeit it much far too late in the institution's history, was a really good first step. My observations, at USM and elsewhere, have led me to conlude that the stronger the AAUP chapter, the stronger the instituion. I do hope that more and more USM faculty members will affiliate with USM AAUP. If the USM administration would fully recognize and support its AAUP chapter, as do other major universities, USM would be a much better institution.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: foot soldier
"It has been a long summer! I believe LVN is the author of the living room analogy. I also seem to recall that there was chips and spinach dip at the party."

I don't remember exactly what I said, but yes there was definitely spinach dip! It was in response to those complaining that the FS board didn't grant "free speech" and I likened the board to a big open party. All were welcome to the party, but FireShelby was the host and owner of the house and had the right to show people off the property if needed. Maybe somebody else has the actual text. I was extremely flattered that people appreciated the concept.