Comments on: If the University Wants More Money, They’d Better Change Their Politics. http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/05/if-the-university-wants-more-money-theyd-better-change-their-politics/ Tiptoeing Through the Muck of Alaskan Politics Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:47:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mpb http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/05/if-the-university-wants-more-money-theyd-better-change-their-politics/#comment-16102 mpb Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:05:29 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1551#comment-16102 <blockquote>Universities generally strive to present all viewpoints, and ask unpopular questions that can’t be asked elsewhere.</blockquote> Unfortunately, this isn't true in Alaska between the urban campuses and the rural campuses. Rural faculty are fired for speaking out in faculty meetings against the treatment of students (19 credits required for first ever students because "if you don't keep them busy, they just get into trouble"). Urban faculty are reinstated (Anchorage poet) Rural campus directors have no prior college faculty experience (high school vice principals) while Ph.D. faculty with impressive minority education experience are not retained. Grants obtained for improving rural programs are diverted to other purposes. Tenure-track positions for extending university knowledge to communities with sanitation, energy, economic development needs are filled by those without prior experience and who don't have the credentials for tenure in urban campuses, instead of ones who do. Research isn't based in the Unorganized Borough because the claim is "there is no one qualified there who can supervise our graduate students". Urban campuses receive awards for computer security; rural campuses have systems break-ins ignored for 5 years (hah! that rural system was connected to the state system so 40,000 Alaskans had their personal identities open. ) On the other hand, maybe it is just a gender issue, not a rural bias or a competence bias.

Universities generally strive to present all viewpoints, and ask unpopular questions that can’t be asked elsewhere.

Unfortunately, this isn’t true in Alaska between the urban campuses and the rural campuses.

Rural faculty are fired for speaking out in faculty meetings against the treatment of students (19 credits required for first ever students because “if you don’t keep them busy, they just get into trouble”). Urban faculty are reinstated (Anchorage poet)

Rural campus directors have no prior college faculty experience (high school vice principals) while Ph.D. faculty with impressive minority education experience are not retained. Grants obtained for improving rural programs are diverted to other purposes.

Tenure-track positions for extending university knowledge to communities with sanitation, energy, economic development needs are filled by those without prior experience and who don’t have the credentials for tenure in urban campuses, instead of ones who do.

Research isn’t based in the Unorganized Borough because the claim is “there is no one qualified there who can supervise our graduate students”.

Urban campuses receive awards for computer security; rural campuses have systems break-ins ignored for 5 years (hah! that rural system was connected to the state system so 40,000 Alaskans had their personal identities open. )

On the other hand, maybe it is just a gender issue, not a rural bias or a competence bias.

]]> By: Firecracker http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/05/if-the-university-wants-more-money-theyd-better-change-their-politics/#comment-16054 Firecracker Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:41:22 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1551#comment-16054 I probably should not be posting this but I can no longer contain myself. The professor that spoke to the press and made what I consider to be rather innocuous comments is taking heat from the University. In any other state/community being a faculty member of a university is a respected position but not in Alaska. Here faculty is attacked within the university system and now outside of the system. I have never seen anything like it. I am a good teacher, students like my classes, I do not preach politics and I have both liberal and conservative students who like me but I really doubt that I will stay in the Alaska education system much longer with attacks like these. Academic freedom and the freedom to speak to the press is too important. I probably should not be posting this but I can no longer contain myself. The professor that spoke to the press and made what I consider to be rather innocuous comments is taking heat from the University. In any other state/community being a faculty member of a university is a respected position but not in Alaska. Here faculty is attacked within the university system and now outside of the system. I have never seen anything like it. I am a good teacher, students like my classes, I do not preach politics and I have both liberal and conservative students who like me but I really doubt that I will stay in the Alaska education system much longer with attacks like these. Academic freedom and the freedom to speak to the press is too important.

]]> By: Livvy http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/05/if-the-university-wants-more-money-theyd-better-change-their-politics/#comment-16037 Livvy Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:36:05 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1551#comment-16037 If Bill McAllister was part of a scheme to produce a composite picture that misled people about SP, would that be a violation of his professional ethics? I'm referring to the picture of Dan Carpenter, SP and McAllister that mysteriously appeared on August 31. It was dated April 13th and was supposedly taken when Palin did the interview with Andrea Gusty. It is widely available as is the still photo of SP in the blue jacket standing next to the man named Elan who was doing a video of her in April. Look at her face in each. The bangs are EXACTLY alike. Cut off the top knot on the Elan picture and superimpose one on top of the other. These pictures were taken eight days apart. no way my bangs look exactly alike even eight hours apart. Somethin is fishey here. Surely we have a photoshop person in the group. Take a look. If Bill McAllister was part of a scheme to produce a composite picture that misled people about SP, would that be a violation of his professional ethics?

I’m referring to the picture of Dan Carpenter, SP and McAllister that mysteriously appeared on August 31. It was dated April 13th and was supposedly taken when Palin did the interview with Andrea Gusty. It is widely available as is the still photo of SP in the blue jacket standing next to the man named Elan who was doing a video of her in April. Look at her face in each. The bangs are EXACTLY alike. Cut off the top knot on the Elan picture and superimpose one on top of the other.

These pictures were taken eight days apart. no way my bangs look exactly alike even eight hours apart. Somethin is fishey here. Surely we have a photoshop person in the group. Take a look.

]]> By: sauerkraut http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/05/if-the-university-wants-more-money-theyd-better-change-their-politics/#comment-15684 sauerkraut Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:12:16 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1551#comment-15684 Paula Cochran (15:55:28) : I just had to share this. Our state is cutting 26,000 state jobs but education support is being increase 8.8%. Rendell said: ________________________ Rendell said a bunch of crap. He claims to be increasing state aid to the 501 school districts in this state but most of it is a bookkeeping stunt. Whereas the primary aid has been in the form of general education aid and an earmarked performance grant, he's now put both together. Ergo: there will only be general education aid in this year's budget but by rolling the previous ADG into it, it looks as if there's an increase. There's not. Really. Frankly, if it weren't for Palin, I'd quickly put Rendell up for the headliner as the country's worst governor. And I've had his sign in my yard the past couple of cycles. Paula Cochran (15:55:28) :

I just had to share this. Our state is cutting 26,000 state jobs but education support is being increase 8.8%. Rendell said:
________________________

Rendell said a bunch of crap.

He claims to be increasing state aid to the 501 school districts in this state but most of it is a bookkeeping stunt. Whereas the primary aid has been in the form of general education aid and an earmarked performance grant, he’s now put both together. Ergo: there will only be general education aid in this year’s budget but by rolling the previous ADG into it, it looks as if there’s an increase. There’s not. Really.

Frankly, if it weren’t for Palin, I’d quickly put Rendell up for the headliner as the country’s worst governor. And I’ve had his sign in my yard the past couple of cycles.

]]> By: sauerkraut http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/05/if-the-university-wants-more-money-theyd-better-change-their-politics/#comment-15682 sauerkraut Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:07:08 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1551#comment-15682 austintx (15:48:13) : The thought police strike again……..maybe someone at the Fed. level needs to make Ann aware that they will/ won’t hold back funds for AK. just because of her bass-ackwards thinking __________________ Well, that's a point, austintx. Here's what I am think along those lines... see the below video. Perhaps one of our enterprising mudpuppies can make a similar video to the tune of the dream police. It could apply to this topic (dream police going after univ professors) or to Colberg (vis-a-vis his "she committed no ethical violation) or to Palin herself with the Moneghan situation. Anyone with that talent up for that task? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaNGiHAsQv8 austintx (15:48:13) :

The thought police strike again……..maybe someone at the Fed. level needs to make Ann aware that they will/ won’t hold back funds for AK. just because of her bass-ackwards thinking

__________________

Well, that’s a point, austintx.

Here’s what I am think along those lines… see the below video. Perhaps one of our enterprising mudpuppies can make a similar video to the tune of the dream police. It could apply to this topic (dream police going after univ professors) or to Colberg (vis-a-vis his “she committed no ethical violation) or to Palin herself with the Moneghan situation.

Anyone with that talent up for that task?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaNGiHAsQv8

]]> By: sauerkraut http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/05/if-the-university-wants-more-money-theyd-better-change-their-politics/#comment-15680 sauerkraut Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:59:08 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1551#comment-15680 Ripley in CT (15:06:47) : Yikes. what is wrong with those people? it’s the damned oil. ______________ Not exactly on point, but this Midnight Oil banger is what popped into my head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10BbpGKLXqk Ripley in CT (15:06:47) :

Yikes. what is wrong with those people? it’s the damned oil.

______________

Not exactly on point, but this Midnight Oil banger is what popped into my head:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10BbpGKLXqk

]]> By: sauerkraut http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/05/if-the-university-wants-more-money-theyd-better-change-their-politics/#comment-15679 sauerkraut Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:52:37 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1551#comment-15679 AKM asks: "What institution of higher learning; what seat of academia could have committed such an epic fail by letting one of its own out into the world with such a basic misunderstanding of the role of academia in society? " Ummm... U of Idaho? Anna is following the leader, the leader, the Sarah; Oooh, Anna's following the leader, the leader, oh my! AKM asks: “What institution of higher learning; what seat of academia could have committed such an epic fail by letting one of its own out into the world with such a basic misunderstanding of the role of academia in society? ”

Ummm… U of Idaho? Anna is following the leader, the leader, the Sarah; Oooh, Anna’s following the leader, the leader, oh my!

]]> By: sauerkraut http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/05/if-the-university-wants-more-money-theyd-better-change-their-politics/#comment-15678 sauerkraut Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:50:03 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1551#comment-15678 Seems to me that Fairclough misses the meaning of the 1st Amendment and its Alaskan equivalent. What she proposes/utters appears to be retaliation against people exercising those free speech rights. Shame on Fairclough. Seems to me that Fairclough misses the meaning of the 1st Amendment and its Alaskan equivalent. What she proposes/utters appears to be retaliation against people exercising those free speech rights. Shame on Fairclough.

]]> By: Bodie P http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/05/if-the-university-wants-more-money-theyd-better-change-their-politics/#comment-15638 Bodie P Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:52:21 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1551#comment-15638 You guys are right, this is not new, and it's not a small problem, even though it feels pretty personal right now. Thing is, I grew up in fundamentalism and chose to leave many years ago (best thing I ever did--I still say, "I'm so GLAD I don't go to church" when I drive by my former church's local religious outpost). From the outside I know that my sister could and should sue--and as you say, there are undoubtedly lawyers who would take this on spec, or even as a class-action suit, since all of the middle-school teachers at the school have been fired, but the whole religious/social component is incredibly powerful. I'm giving my poor little sister regular injections of spine (which is about as much fun for her as it sounds like) and I'm hoping they DO sue. Such abuses can only survive as long as people bend over and take it. You guys are right, this is not new, and it’s not a small problem, even though it feels pretty personal right now. Thing is, I grew up in fundamentalism and chose to leave many years ago (best thing I ever did–I still say, “I’m so GLAD I don’t go to church” when I drive by my former church’s local religious outpost). From the outside I know that my sister could and should sue–and as you say, there are undoubtedly lawyers who would take this on spec, or even as a class-action suit, since all of the middle-school teachers at the school have been fired, but the whole religious/social component is incredibly powerful. I’m giving my poor little sister regular injections of spine (which is about as much fun for her as it sounds like) and I’m hoping they DO sue. Such abuses can only survive as long as people bend over and take it.

]]> By: Paula Cochran http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/05/if-the-university-wants-more-money-theyd-better-change-their-politics/#comment-15626 Paula Cochran Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:08:19 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1551#comment-15626 Wasn't it Palin who misquoted someone else...but her words were, "Women who don't support other women are going straight to hell?" Figured she already was going there already, so threw in the bag or what? Wasn’t it Palin who misquoted someone else…but her words were, “Women who don’t support other women are going straight to hell?”
Figured she already was going there already, so threw in the bag or what?

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