“No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man
without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.”
- Frederick Douglass
From the EA President
Each of us has probably heard one version or another of the famous Wallace Sayre quotation "Academic politics is the most vicious and bitter form of politics, because the stakes are so low." A professor of public administration at Columbia, Sayre certainly touched a nerve when he offered up his explanation for academic vitriol in the 1950s. While funny, the statement is only partially true, as the stakes in many conflicts in academia can be quite high. Sayre's quote also leaves out a few other causes of the vicious and bitter nature of academic conflicts. Because I've been dealing with such conflicts for more than 10 years as a union leader, I would like to present three other factors that intensify conflicts on campus. All three of these are factors that I believe all of us (myself included) could work consciously work to avoid.
1. Injection of Personalities
More so than other workplaces, I think that colleges tend to be personality driven. This can make life interesting, but it can also contribute quite harmfully to the nastiness of academic disputes. I have witnessed administrators take positions on issues solely based upon which faculty member was involved, and vice versa. I think we can all agree that personalities should not drive the resolution of conflicts. It takes healthy doses of discipline and good procedure to make sure that this doesn't happen.
2. Conspiracy Theories
Academics--both faculty and administrators--seem particularly susceptible to conspiracy theories. Often we ascribe some grand, malevolent plan to the other side based on past squabbles. I have always subscribed to the adage "Never Attribute to Malice that Which Incompetence Will Explain." C.K. Gunsalus, in an excellent paper entitled "Basic Guidelines for Handling Complaints," explained the adage this way:
We are far too fast to attribute bad motives to others when, most of the time, bad things happen through inattention, inaction, or miscommunication. The first step when concerned about something that's going on is to ask about it: "is this right?" "I must not understand fully; can you help me?" "How can this be reconciled with our decision to do X?" Quite often, we haven't understood. (Science and Engineering Ethics, Vol. 4, 1998).
3. Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
Finally, there are conflicts that actually arise because administrators and faculty will them into existence. Statements such as "My Dean is out to get me," or "So-and-so faculty member is trying to destroy this initiative" can often come true (or become more true) by saying and acting as if they are true. There is no surer way to make someone your adversary than by treating them as if they already are one. This is sure to intensify any conflict, and has the potential to generate conflict where none existed previously.
The antidote to the factors mentioned above, of course, is quite simple, as our previous Grievance Officer Leonard Meizlish often noted in the pages of the Forward: better communication. Better communication does not necessarily mean more communication. We already have a dizzying number of e-mails, web pages, voice mails, memos, letters, pamphlets, etc. to disseminate and read. More important, perhaps, is the manner in which we communicate with each other, especially in face-to-face communications.
-Steve Robinson
From the Forward Editor
Heard in the Halls: A Collection of Concerns
There have been a number of issues that have come to my attention recently. Some of the concerns that follow are major, some more minor, but they all deserve our attention. Feel free to respond, agree, disagree or send more information about any of these topics. I expect that the Forward will revisit these topics (and others) in the future.
- This semester, as is often the case, there were numerous concerns about the bookstore failing to give students the correct books and failing to order enough books for a given class. Since this happens every semester, it is tempting to dismiss these complaints with a shrug. But the College Bookstore has a commitment to the college and the students that isn’t being fulfilled. Borders or Barnes & Noble wouldn’t last long with similar service.
- Why is it that “security function” that limits our time when giving grades is so brief? Obviously, the grades should be secure from hackers, but it seems that at a time when faculty need to be most meticulous and careful, we are forced to rush. It shouldn’t be that difficult to give the faculty a longer time to enter grades (especially for some very large Distance Learning classes) and still retain computer security.
- A number of complaints have been heard from several areas on campus concerning what might be called pettiness in divisional governance. To be sure, many of the issues are not contractual or a likely basis for a grievance, (office assignments, classroom locations, released time etc.) but the misuse of these perks by administrators leads to a rising level of distrust and friction that serves neither the administration nor the institution well. (Maybe it’s time to form a Committee to Resist Academic Pettiness.)
- Apparently, some Distance Learning faculty have come under the gun for failing to pass enough students. It seems that those DLT classes with less than 50% “success rate” are under pressure to raise the numbers. If we want to guarantee a certain rate of success, we can do it. We all know how to apply curves and juggle numbers to make sure “things come out right.” It’s not hard. Whether it’s academically sound is another question.
-Paul Rozycki
Time for the Golden Apple Nominations
It’s time for the nominations for the Chester D. Smith Outstanding Staff Member Awards. Take some time to nominate a colleague who has contributed to Mott Community College. The forms are on the back page of the Forward.
Congratulations
Mott Community College ’s Women’s Basketball coach, Letitia Hughley, deserves congratulations for the winning the Women’s Basketball state championship. A victory over Kellogg Community College earned them their first state title.
Congratulations are also in order for MCC Psychology Professor, Dr. Lillie McCain and MCC’s Chief of Public Safety Theresa Stephens-Lock, who were chosen as the Genesee District Library’s Black History Month Honorees for 2007.
Forward Focus: Kathryn Gurin
As a regular feature the Forward introduces our new full-time faculty with their answers to ten questions about themselves. Kathryn Gurin has joined our faculty this year.
1. Name and position at MCC...
Kathryn Gurin: Clinical Coordinator Director for the Respiratory Therapy program.
2. Educational/occupational background...
I have an AD in Respiratory Therapy from Oakland Community College, my BS is from U of M Flint in Health Education, and my Masters is from Eastern University in Educational Leadership.
3. Why did I come to Mott…
I am thrilled to be here and consider my self very fortunate. I want the opportunity to teach our future Respiratory Therapist and share my years of clinical experience with the students. I think the program here is outstanding and I have been anxious to be a part of it on a full time bases.
4. I teach what I do because...
I love the profession I chose as a Respiratory Therapist. It’s "who I am." I want to share that and pass the torch on to the future RTs. I want them to love it as much as I have. The bonus--- I love teaching people things and I learn so much myself as I do that.
5. What I like most about being at MCC is…
I am fairly new at this point, but I would have to say, I love the campus feel, a room full of students, and the chance to work with such outstanding people who all seem to be on the same page about providing students with the best education possible. I have felt very welcomed here and everyone is extremely helpful.
6. The thing that bothers me most about MCC is…
Nothing at this point, just learning how to do all the many things that we are able to utilize to make our jobs more efficient and better for the students. Lots of technology out there to tape into, just trying to find the time to learn it ALL!
7. The most important or significant book I have ever read is …
Tuesdays with Morrie--- Life IS the dance.
8. One person I admire is …
My Father--- He is the guy that made me what I am today-values, education, drive, faith, encouragement. What a great guy he was-- and he could sing!
9. To get away from the classroom I enjoy…
RACE WALKING- spending as much time as possible with my best friends.
10 . My proudest accomplishment is…
Educational side: Going on to receive my Masters and having both my parents seeing this happen and now, I would have to say coming to MCC as a full-time instructor. On the activity side, I would have to say finishing my First Marathon in a competitive race walk division. On a personal side, beating cancer.
From the Ed-Pac Chair
This year two members of the Mott Community College Board of Trustees are up for reelection—Ehren Gonzales and John Snell. Sally Joseph has also filed to run for the six year position. Within the next several weeks the MCCEA Ed Pac committee will interview the candidates and make a recommendation. The committee members this year are Paul Rozycki, Lillie McCain, Janet Westhoff, Brian Ivory and Terrence Stewart. Please feel free to share your thoughts and concerns with anyone on the committee. The election is May 8 th.
-Paul Rozycki