Student voices

If you haven't seen it yet, the Independent Collegian ran an editorial today about the opportunities the new merged Faculty Senate might provide for better communication between the faculty and administration and the faculty and the board. While that might not sound much, it's actually a strongly-worded call for the preservation of shared governance. It begins quite boldly: "The past few months have been turbulent ones for the University of Toledo, capable of wrenching the institution from its foundations and inspiring ruinous upheaval." But the best part is this section:

In order to truly improve this university - or at least to keep it functioning adequately - all parties involved must have a hand in planning UT's future. It is undeniable that there are important advancements that can be made here at UT, even though the idea of improving a "failing liberal arts education" is ridiculous and dangerous. In order to even come close to accomplishing these goals and maybe moving UT ahead in national ranks, no matter the direction, there must be shared faculty and administrative governance. A marginalized faculty will, at best, simply not cooperate with an oppressive administration and become stressed, creating a nightmarish bureaucratic tug-of-war game and an unhealthy atmosphere for student education. At the worst, it will encourage faculty members to leave this university and continue their careers elsewhere.

The students get it. Why doesn't the administration?

Go read the rest. It's worth it.