Faculty Unrest Grows...here we go again...

[asu66]

From the Chronicle of Higher Education...

Appalachian State University
Recent posts
March 27, 2013 by Nick DeSantis


Appalachian State U. Faculty Senate Votes No Confidence in 2 Administrators

A divided Faculty Senate at Appalachian State University voted this week to express no confidence in two top administrators, after faculty members circulated a petition that raised concerns about academic freedom and governance at the North Carolina institution, according to the Watauga Democrat, a local newspaper.

The Senate’s move against Lori Gonzalez, the university’s provost, passed by a single vote. A motion to express no confidence in Tony Carey, the university’s vice provost for faculty affairs, passed by nine votes. However, some 50 faculty members and employees appeared outside the meeting where the voting took place to express support for the provost, the newspaper reported.

The petition seeking the no-confidence votes accused the two administrators of engaging in “a pattern of disregard for academic freedom” and ignoring the due-process rights of faculty members. It does not explicitly mention the case of Jammie Price, the sociology professor who was placed on leave after showing a film about pornography in her classroom, though it alludes to “actions pertaining to specific individual faculty members.”

A recent Faculty Senate survey also found that faculty morale at the university had declined in recent years.

Kenneth E. Peacock, the university’s chancellor, backed Ms. Gonzalez in a written statement on Wednesday, saying she enjoyed his “complete confidence” and “unwavering support.” He said the two of them remained committed to dealing with faculty members’ concerns.
Filed under: Leadership, Appalachian State University

[GlassOnion]

The University has gotten better by leaps and bounds, and the faculty is unhappy.

It makes one wonder.

[RankinApp]

[firemoose]

I've been on this for a while. Many of the departments told their FS reps to vote what they wanted, not what the departments wanted. I know of three departments that took votes from all their members and those reps took those results to the FS meeting as their vote. They all voted against the vote of no confidence. But Matt Robinson and his group, the same group that supported and protested about the Price situation didn't want it put to a university wide vote. Robinson and his group have made no secret that they would prefer that App revert to a Liberal Arts college only and drop everything else, including athletics. News flash for them. Without athletics and the other non Liberal Arts colleges many of them would not have jobs. They have made us a laughing stock amoung the UNC system schools and it's no coincidence that the UNC System President will be here late next week. The only good thing that has come out of this is that many of the other faculty members who have either ignored, were apathetic, or just plain didn't care about Robinson and his group are just now figuring out that they can't be the silent majority any more and let the vocal minority stir the pot. I am hearing from many on campus that a fight is brewing and they have finally reached their limits. It's going to get ugly.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I've been on this for a while. Many of the departments told their FS reps to vote what they wanted, not what the departments wanted. I know of three departments that took votes from all their members and those reps took those results to the FS meeting as their vote. They all voted against the vote of no confidence. But Matt Robinson and his group, the same group that supported and protested about the Price situation didn't want it put to a university wide vote. Robinson and his group have made no secret that they would prefer that App revert to a Liberal Arts college only and drop everything else, including athletics. News flash for them. Without athletics and the other non Liberal Arts colleges many of them would not have jobs. They have made us a laughing stock amoung the UNC system schools and it's no coincidence that the UNC System President will be here late next week. The only good thing that has come out of this is that many of the other faculty members who have either ignored, were apathetic, or just plain didn't care about Robinson and his group are just now figuring out that they can't be the silent majority any more and let the vocal minority stir the pot. I am hearing from many on campus that a fight is brewing and they have finally reached their limits. It's going to get ugly.

I don't really see things like this as bad per se. Sunshine is always good for public bodies in my view. If there is merit to the no-confidence vote the pot will continue to be stirred and maybe rightly so. If the group of 50 that were protesting in support of the provost rally enough support then the no-confidence vote will be nullified or overturned by another vote. To me, on the outside looking in and not taking sides, these sorts of things show a vigorous academic community debating important things about the future of a university. To me better that than deadly silence.

Back in the very late 1980s the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences stepped down. He had been a Prof and come out of the Physics and Astronomy Dept. There was a teach vs research debate going on at the time. That was just about the time App started using the bird on the mountain top in the logo. The Physics Dept and the other hard sciences generally supported Dr. Byrd it seems. He was wanting to see more research funds become available. I remember seeing a few stickers around stating "More Byrd brains, less bird brains." in support of Dr. Byrd. I imagine the Faculty Senate was involved in some votes with this back then. Life goes on for the university, it did then, and it will now. But it is important to have those discussions in my view.

With a faculty of the size of App's to not have some difference of opinions would be worrisome.

[firemoose]

I've been on this for a while. Many of the departments told their FS reps to vote what they wanted, not what the departments wanted. I know of three departments that took votes from all their members and those reps took those results to the FS meeting as their vote. They all voted against the vote of no confidence. But Matt Robinson and his group, the same group that supported and protested about the Price situation didn't want it put to a university wide vote. Robinson and his group have made no secret that they would prefer that App revert to a Liberal Arts college only and drop everything else, including athletics. News flash for them. Without athletics and the other non Liberal Arts colleges many of them would not have jobs. They have made us a laughing stock amoung the UNC system schools and it's no coincidence that the UNC System President will be here late next week. The only good thing that has come out of this is that many of the other faculty members who have either ignored, were apathetic, or just plain didn't care about Robinson and his group are just now figuring out that they can't be the silent majority any more and let the vocal minority stir the pot. I am hearing from many on campus that a fight is brewing and they have finally reached their limits. It's going to get ugly.

I don't really see things like this as bad per se. Sunshine is always good for public bodies in my view. If there is merit to the no-confidence vote the pot will continue to be stirred and maybe rightly so. If the group of 50 that were protesting in support of the provost rally enough support then the no-confidence vote will be nullified or overturned by another vote. To me, on the outside looking in and not taking sides, these sorts of things show a vigorous academic community debating important things about the future of a university. To me better that than deadly silence.

Back in the very late 1980s the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences stepped down. He had been a Prof and come out of the Physics and Astronomy Dept. There was a teach vs research debate going on at the time. That was just about the time App started using the bird on the mountain top in the logo. The Physics Dept and the other hard sciences generally supported Dr. Byrd it seems. He was wanting to see more research funds become available. I remember seeing a few stickers around stating "More Byrd brains, less bird brains." in support of Dr. Byrd. I imagine the Faculty Senate was involved in some votes with this back then. Life goes on for the university, it did then, and it will now. But it is important to have those discussions in my view.

With a faculty of the size of App's to not have some difference of opinions would be worrisome.

I agree with you and am not supporting one group or the other. I'm only reporting what is being said. People aren't happy and sides are being chosen. The laughing stock line came from someone in the UNC system office. Just thought people would want to know what is going on. It will work itself out in time.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I've been on this for a while. Many of the departments told their FS reps to vote what they wanted, not what the departments wanted. I know of three departments that took votes from all their members and those reps took those results to the FS meeting as their vote. They all voted against the vote of no confidence. But Matt Robinson and his group, the same group that supported and protested about the Price situation didn't want it put to a university wide vote. Robinson and his group have made no secret that they would prefer that App revert to a Liberal Arts college only and drop everything else, including athletics. News flash for them. Without athletics and the other non Liberal Arts colleges many of them would not have jobs. They have made us a laughing stock amoung the UNC system schools and it's no coincidence that the UNC System President will be here late next week. The only good thing that has come out of this is that many of the other faculty members who have either ignored, were apathetic, or just plain didn't care about Robinson and his group are just now figuring out that they can't be the silent majority any more and let the vocal minority stir the pot. I am hearing from many on campus that a fight is brewing and they have finally reached their limits. It's going to get ugly.

I don't really see things like this as bad per se. Sunshine is always good for public bodies in my view. If there is merit to the no-confidence vote the pot will continue to be stirred and maybe rightly so. If the group of 50 that were protesting in support of the provost rally enough support then the no-confidence vote will be nullified or overturned by another vote. To me, on the outside looking in and not taking sides, these sorts of things show a vigorous academic community debating important things about the future of a university. To me better that than deadly silence.

Back in the very late 1980s the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences stepped down. He had been a Prof and come out of the Physics and Astronomy Dept. There was a teach vs research debate going on at the time. That was just about the time App started using the bird on the mountain top in the logo. The Physics Dept and the other hard sciences generally supported Dr. Byrd it seems. He was wanting to see more research funds become available. I remember seeing a few stickers around stating "More Byrd brains, less bird brains." in support of Dr. Byrd. I imagine the Faculty Senate was involved in some votes with this back then. Life goes on for the university, it did then, and it will now. But it is important to have those discussions in my view.

With a faculty of the size of App's to not have some difference of opinions would be worrisome.

I agree with you and am not supporting one group or the other. I'm only reporting what is being said. People aren't happy and sides are being chosen. The laughing stock line came from someone in the UNC system office. Just thought people would want to know what is going on. It will work itself out in time.

Compared to what is happening around the UNC system, I would think someone at the UNC system office would be more focused on UNC-CH. Though what is happening there is more to be sad about than laugh about in my opinion.

I also wonder how much of the angst at the admin is frustration with pay scales and such and the admin is a proxy for the politicians in Raleigh and the such. It is much easier to all get along when money is flush, compared to when budgets are tight and getting tighter.

[JCline0429]

I've been on this for a while. Many of the departments told their FS reps to vote what they wanted, not what the departments wanted. I know of three departments that took votes from all their members and those reps took those results to the FS meeting as their vote. They all voted against the vote of no confidence. But Matt Robinson and his group, the same group that supported and protested about the Price situation didn't want it put to a university wide vote. Robinson and his group have made no secret that they would prefer that App revert to a Liberal Arts college only and drop everything else, including athletics. News flash for them. Without athletics and the other non Liberal Arts colleges many of them would not have jobs. They have made us a laughing stock amoung the UNC system schools and it's no coincidence that the UNC System President will be here late next week. The only good thing that has come out of this is that many of the other faculty members who have either ignored, were apathetic, or just plain didn't care about Robinson and his group are just now figuring out that they can't be the silent majority any more and let the vocal minority stir the pot. I am hearing from many on campus that a fight is brewing and they have finally reached their limits. It's going to get ugly.

Two words: Civil War.

[JCline0429]

I've been on this for a while. Many of the departments told their FS reps to vote what they wanted, not what the departments wanted. I know of three departments that took votes from all their members and those reps took those results to the FS meeting as their vote. They all voted against the vote of no confidence. But Matt Robinson and his group, the same group that supported and protested about the Price situation didn't want it put to a university wide vote. Robinson and his group have made no secret that they would prefer that App revert to a Liberal Arts college only and drop everything else, including athletics. News flash for them. Without athletics and the other non Liberal Arts colleges many of them would not have jobs. They have made us a laughing stock amoung the UNC system schools and it's no coincidence that the UNC System President will be here late next week. The only good thing that has come out of this is that many of the other faculty members who have either ignored, were apathetic, or just plain didn't care about Robinson and his group are just now figuring out that they can't be the silent majority any more and let the vocal minority stir the pot. I am hearing from many on campus that a fight is brewing and they have finally reached their limits. It's going to get ugly.

I don't really see things like this as bad per se. Sunshine is always good for public bodies in my view. If there is merit to the no-confidence vote the pot will continue to be stirred and maybe rightly so. If the group of 50 that were protesting in support of the provost rally enough support then the no-confidence vote will be nullified or overturned by another vote. To me, on the outside looking in and not taking sides, these sorts of things show a vigorous academic community debating important things about the future of a university. To me better that than deadly silence.

Back in the very late 1980s the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences stepped down. He had been a Prof and come out of the Physics and Astronomy Dept. There was a teach vs research debate going on at the time. That was just about the time App started using the bird on the mountain top in the logo. The Physics Dept and the other hard sciences generally supported Dr. Byrd it seems. He was wanting to see more research funds become available. I remember seeing a few stickers around stating "More Byrd brains, less bird brains." in support of Dr. Byrd. I imagine the Faculty Senate was involved in some votes with this back then. Life goes on for the university, it did then, and it will now. But it is important to have those discussions in my view.

With a faculty of the size of App's to not have some difference of opinions would be worrisome.

I agree, but couldn't this have been achieved without having the whole academic world watching? Discrete, we "ain't."

[firemoose]

Compared to what is happening around the UNC system, I would think someone at the UNC system office would be more focused on UNC-CH. Though what is happening there is more to be sad about than laugh about in my opinion.

I also wonder how much of the angst at the admin is frustration with pay scales and such and the admin is a proxy for the politicians in Raleigh and the such. It is much easier to all get along when money is flush, compared to when budgets are tight and getting tighter.

I actually brought that up to the guy in Raleigh. We're a laughing stock because we have two polar opposite groups butting heads and Chapel Hill is mostly getting a pass from the system with everything they have done? His response was "Chapel Hill is the darling of the system and can do no wrong. It would take an act of war to get them in trouble while all Appalachian has to do is sneeze and people start making jokes". That is a direct quote. I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget it. And the worst part was I wasn't surprised.

[JCline0429]

One word: deflection.

[firemoose]

One word: deflection.

Yep

[eggers76]

One word: deflection.

Another word I would use for UNC-CH is "corruption" and it goes to the very core.Too many folks supporting it too for things to ever change or get fixed.

[Appsolutely]

I've been on this for a while. Many of the departments told their FS reps to vote what they wanted, not what the departments wanted. I know of three departments that took votes from all their members and those reps took those results to the FS meeting as their vote. They all voted against the vote of no confidence. But Matt Robinson and his group, the same group that supported and protested about the Price situation didn't want it put to a university wide vote. Robinson and his group have made no secret that they would prefer that App revert to a Liberal Arts college only and drop everything else, including athletics. News flash for them. Without athletics and the other non Liberal Arts colleges many of them would not have jobs. They have made us a laughing stock amoung the UNC system schools and it's no coincidence that the UNC System President will be here late next week. The only good thing that has come out of this is that many of the other faculty members who have either ignored, were apathetic, or just plain didn't care about Robinson and his group are just now figuring out that they can't be the silent majority any more and let the vocal minority stir the pot. I am hearing from many on campus that a fight is brewing and they have finally reached their limits. It's going to get ugly.

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Matt Robinson?

[GlassOnion]

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Matt Robinson?

Considering the torches and pitch forks after him, probably a local Republican.

[appgrouch]

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Matt Robinson?

Considering the torches and pitch forks after him, probably a local Republican.

http://www.appstate.edu/~robinsnmb/mattrobinson.htm

[GlassOnion]

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Matt Robinson?

Considering the torches and pitch forks after him, probably a local Republican.

http://www.appstate.edu/~robinsnmb/mattrobinson.htm

holy smokes, theyre eating their own.

[firemoose]

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Matt Robinson?

Considering the torches and pitch forks after him, probably a local Republican.

You already have seen it but Robinson is as far from a Republican as you can get.