Students Occupy Faculty Senate

When I arrived at the faculty senate today, there were students holding signs protesting. Some of the messages were typical (about fees and costs), but some were about something I didn't understand.

The focus of the meeting was a panel discussion about the University's change to FBS (big time) football. The business case argues that, although the costs will go up, revenues will go up as well and more than offset the increased costs. The faculty made a presentation that this is false: that experience shows that revenues do not increase enough to offset the costs.

The lame-duck chancellor rose to defend the switch, arguing that his administration did do the proper consultation and pleading with the campus to support the endeavor. I was stunned -- I think it's the first time I've heard the chancellor actually ask for support for his goals. But it's way too late: his tenure has been characterized by governance through fait accompli: rather than asking people to get onboard at the ground level, he mainly has preempted every committee that was ever charged to examine what he proposed to do. It was sad and pathetic.

The students waited quietly and patiently for more than an hour to have a few minutes to make their case. It turned out that the university administration sent email to a bunch of undergraduate employees telling them they were fired and that they had lost their room-and-board waivers for next semester (resulting in a $1200 increase in their costs). Many students expressed their frustration and rage with an administration that gave students no input into the decision-making process.

The only serious business was a motion that calls on the administration to raise the money to renovate the stadium from private donors, rather than putting the costs on the backs of students. For a stadium that essentially won't be used anymore, but which, although old, needs to be renovated solely due to the change in status. The administration brought in the deans as shills to vote on their side of the issue, but lost the vote by a 3/1 margin. It was embarrassing to see the deans being used that way. I hope I never so completely lose my self-esteem as to let myself be used that way.

One of the last students to speak, described her experience trying to communicate with the administration: how whenever she or her parents had a question, it was a nightmare dealing with the administration. No-one knew the answer and it was always unpleasant. I've made it a personal mission that I never let students bounce off me: if I can't fix it, I make sure the issue gets fixed -- personally. But I'm lucky to be in circumstances where I can do that. My guess is that many employees aren't so empowered. It's a problem that needs real leadership to fix -- and a commitment to focus on fixing the issues on the ground, rather than just trying to enhance the brand.