tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post641075091975012806..comments2023-10-10T04:30:38.687-05:00Comments on Deo volente: From furloughs to fair shareDave Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100006856645294730noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-46084855179919488932011-08-15T15:56:53.116-05:002011-08-15T15:56:53.116-05:00Way back,Anonymous August 12, 3:16 pm stated that ...Way back,Anonymous August 12, 3:16 pm stated that the faculty have great benefits, great pay and job security. I wonder how Anonymous thinks these great things occurred. Does Anonymous think that the past administration simply gave them to the faculty out of the kindness of their hearts? These things were won through negotiations between the FA and the administrations. Cheng appears to want D Sparlingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-16205869257821456492011-08-13T13:16:34.453-05:002011-08-13T13:16:34.453-05:00Cheng had autonomy in imposing furloughs on all em...Cheng had autonomy in imposing furloughs on all employees, threatening to fire 93 NTT faculty (many of whom have made great contributions to this university and students despite the lack of tenure, and ignoring reequests to resume collective bargaining. But it seems she has not the power to stop money going to athletics rather than academics stating that the current economio situation makes it Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-65300983108848346702011-08-13T12:40:46.379-05:002011-08-13T12:40:46.379-05:00I'm not privy to the inner workings of Anthony...I'm not privy to the inner workings of Anthony Hall to know exactly what powers the chancellor has to alter spending decisions that had been laid out by her predecessors.<br /><br />What I heard from the FA is that much of their bargaining last year was spent asking for that information and waiting to get it. Without that information, you and I (and the administration and the FA) are mostly paranoidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01305552154248972937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-12479777374015581552011-08-13T12:21:55.780-05:002011-08-13T12:21:55.780-05:00That's a better reasoned argument, although i...That's a better reasoned argument, although it does seem to muddle funding appropriated for specific capital projects (new buildings) which cannot be intermingled with operating funds (salaries etc).<br /><br />You're right that we need better information regarding funding sources. It was my understanding that the foundation/alumni building was being paid for by them, but I am not sure Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-15040674577942756262011-08-13T11:51:22.163-05:002011-08-13T11:51:22.163-05:00Chancellor Cheng is indeed not responsible for the...Chancellor Cheng is indeed not responsible for the prior stages of Saluki Way. She has however approved the next phases, the new Track and Field complex (at least $4 million), the new Student Services Building ($34.5 million), which will replace Woody, and the SIU Foundation/Alumni Services Building ($30 million). <br /><br />For basic details on current construction on campus, check out this Dave Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09100006856645294730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-11119116471835722932011-08-13T10:52:26.937-05:002011-08-13T10:52:26.937-05:00Venom, distain, contempt vitriol, abuse... these ...Venom, distain, contempt vitriol, abuse... these should have no place here, from either side of the discussion.<br /><br />IMHO the greatest threat to SIU is not the tension between the FA and the administration, it is the polarization of the faculty. Universities are supposed to be places were difference of opinion and new ideas are welcome. Where such ideas can be tested, distilled and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-42424134440550018182011-08-13T10:33:57.271-05:002011-08-13T10:33:57.271-05:00OK, that's fine. You can legitimately make th...OK, that's fine. You can legitimately make that argument (if you give some details etc and can show that whatever spending you are referring to spending was put in place by the current administration). My post made one point only: stop throwing Saluiki Way out as "evidence" of misplaced spending priorities of the current administration. <br /><br />You can think what you want Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-70418965777001461072011-08-13T09:29:39.851-05:002011-08-13T09:29:39.851-05:00To anonymous 4:33 PM:
Saluki Way is just part of ...To anonymous 4:33 PM:<br /><br />Saluki Way is just part of the misspending. If you want to set it aside, that still leaves millions of dollars in non-capital money that are going to increased athletics spending that could be moved around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-86979425905955185132011-08-13T07:48:08.673-05:002011-08-13T07:48:08.673-05:00To anonymous 4:33 PM:
As a student who is paying ...To anonymous 4:33 PM:<br /><br />As a student who is paying a pretty hefty fee for Saluki Way facilities (the second highest fee and nearly $300) that I don't use, don't go to games, or interact with athletics outside of teaching athletes in my classroom... I appreciate hearing the objections. Yes, these plans were laid out a long time ago -- before I even started. I missed the chance to Kristinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-33747637907616578432011-08-12T20:17:58.458-05:002011-08-12T20:17:58.458-05:00On the tenure issue, enough material is around to ...On the tenure issue, enough material is around to acquaint people with the facts. You are not a first year freshman needing to be fed facts so just do your homework. Also anybody who supports the current administration's dictatorial mandates involving 30 day lay-offs and furloughs when the Board of Trustee reports showed that SIUC was not in the red, deserves all the criticism they get.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-90164373042409257872011-08-12T18:40:08.417-05:002011-08-12T18:40:08.417-05:00To 5:48. I have never removed a single comment fr...To 5:48. I have never removed a single comment from this blog. That strikes me as even handed. It was precisely to avoid making judgements about what counted as civil, judgements difficult to keep unbiased, that I've avoided doing so. You may well be right that more of the venom has come from the left than from the right--as have most of the comments, period, until the last week. You have,Dave Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09100006856645294730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-69548672477398595682011-08-12T17:48:02.782-05:002011-08-12T17:48:02.782-05:00I agree with Anonymous 4:23 that its pretty rich f...I agree with Anonymous 4:23 that its pretty rich for you to issue a call for civility Dave. You have been perfectly tolerant of the worst sort of abuse when its been coming FROM FA supporters and directed AT those who do not support the FA. As a teacher of Classics I know you understand hypocritical....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-16891068182210912272011-08-12T16:33:06.889-05:002011-08-12T16:33:06.889-05:00Oh for goodness sake. It takes YEARS to implement...Oh for goodness sake. It takes YEARS to implement a new student fee. The fees that go towards Saluki Way were put in place **LONG** before the current administration took up the reins (I think, but am not sure, that they were first proposed under Walter Wendler). It is disingenuous to argue that the current administration is responsible for misdirecting priorities related to those fees or thatAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-25261269920333543502011-08-12T16:23:57.437-05:002011-08-12T16:23:57.437-05:00Dave, "I agree that name calling and impugnin...Dave, "I agree that name calling and impugning of motives doesn't help anything. We've all seen that on both sides."<br /><br />Really, "both sides". Are you trying to imply that disrespectful rhetoric has been evenly distributed around here? You must be joking! I don't recall anyone from the silent majority side calling any FA supporter an "asslicker"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-26210254180732249622011-08-12T16:02:21.344-05:002011-08-12T16:02:21.344-05:00Y'all are right that the silent majority (as o...Y'all are right that the silent majority (as originally defined) seems to be speaking up. I do have a day job, so am going to stop blogging for the day, but will try four quick points. <br /><br />I agree that name calling and impugning of motives doesn't help anything. We've all seen that on both sides. <br /><br />Saluki Way was funded largely with student fees. Those fees could Dave Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09100006856645294730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-79213809394555323972011-08-12T15:21:57.069-05:002011-08-12T15:21:57.069-05:00Absolutely! "the issue is clear cut: a confl...Absolutely! "the issue is clear cut: a conflict between those who take their profession seriously and want to protect its status... <br /><br />Beach parties and faux tourist parading around campus in front of visiting prospective students and their parents, THAT's taking our profession seriously and protecting its status!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-21006121709884027632011-08-12T15:16:05.583-05:002011-08-12T15:16:05.583-05:00Well, I am honored that I warranted a new post (I ...Well, I am honored that I warranted a new post (I am Anonymous 10:31) but I have to agree with Anonymous 12:52 above that by doing so you have broken the chain of comments. As you did not address all of my earlier comments I will again post them here. I will also address your comments to me that did not truly address my concerns.<br /><br />I do not see how what the FA is doing is trying to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-79412739483616824842011-08-12T15:15:45.026-05:002011-08-12T15:15:45.026-05:00Here we go...
More of the same ole crap. "...Here we go... <br /><br />More of the same ole crap. "You don't agree with me so you're a cringing sycophant and I have every right to spit at you". Pathetic! (And far from likely to sway anyone to the FA!!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-7290390420135291352011-08-12T15:15:23.125-05:002011-08-12T15:15:23.125-05:00Yes, things do seem to be heating up. I find it i...Yes, things do seem to be heating up. I find it interesting that if you don't agree with folks like Anonymous@2:24 you are automatically a "Cheng" supporter, or a "Poshard" supporter who "grovels before higher administration on this campus." <br /><br />Maybe some believe that your position, and your rhetoric, is kinda, well, mis-guided. I mean, in your point Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-50846661211763558972011-08-12T14:24:55.929-05:002011-08-12T14:24:55.929-05:00Very eloquent responses, Dave.
The issue is heati...Very eloquent responses, Dave.<br /><br />The issue is heating up according to the number of posts made recently. But Cheng supporters need to confront certain problems.<br /><br />1. According to the Board of Trustee documents, SIUC had a surplus, not a deficit, and still it went ahead with furloughs.<br /><br />2. Unlike UIC, there was no bottom limit protecting lower paid workers from having Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-67164015583467098562011-08-12T14:14:49.944-05:002011-08-12T14:14:49.944-05:00I don't understand the constant bloviating on ...I don't understand the constant bloviating on Saluki Way. No "academic" money went to fund this project. Do you not understand that money from academics just can't be moved over to some other line item? The city, student fees, donations, etc, paid for the project. I think most people get this. I don't know why the FA, or anyone else for that matter, seems to believe Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-78431742706620734002011-08-12T13:50:50.496-05:002011-08-12T13:50:50.496-05:00True enough, those working on the White Papers cer...True enough, those working on the White Papers certainly weren't financial professionals, though some of them had considerable experience pouring over the university's numbers. The comparison I'd prefer is looking at the presentations made by the Chancellor (who is something of a financial expert, or at least is supposed to be, not only because of her office but by her academic Dave Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09100006856645294730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3492014659405332380.post-15434226306406215852011-08-12T12:52:43.584-05:002011-08-12T12:52:43.584-05:00Dave,
There's a lot to comment on in your pos...Dave,<br /><br />There's a lot to comment on in your post, but for now I will limit this to one fairly minor aspect. You mention the FA white papers on university finances. I am sure that you and those that prepared those documents were very proud of them, but I showed them to a financial professional (outside the university) and he described them as "laughable", "Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com