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Ours do as the Pope?
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A MUST READ FOR ALL ACADEMICS! Now on Amazon Kindle. Click on Professor Goat above to be directed to the book.
DON'T BE A SHEEP
UT's Officially Disapproved Information Source and HISTORICAL ARCHIVE. The only source of truth, where Paradox Manifests: Hundreds of thousands of visits. Yet No One Admits to Reading It. Welcome to the "Grey Area" where "Unethical Utterances," i.e., criticisms of administrators, are commonplace. Make U.U. here where genuine civility still reigns, a.k.a., freedom......................... UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO'S EQUIVALENT TO RADIO FREE EUROPE
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NEW!!! Hard Eight by Professor Extreme
HARD EIGHT
Hard Eight: Auto-Ethnographic Essays on Academic Culture Featuring the End of the Arts & Sciences College, University of Toledo, 2010
Daily Koan
Should the newly discovered black hole be named in honor of UT BOT?
Swamp Bubble
Do you agree or disagree that University of Toledo suffers from administrative bloat?
How do you feel about the proposed UT Degree Guarantee program? (Reposted to allow more people to vote.)
How do you feel about the proposed UT Guarantee program?
How would you grade the overall performance of the Jacobs' administration on running the University of Toledo?
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
Bloggie applauds this perspicacious observer:
"The administration is in a panic mode to implement controversial and irreversible structural and curricular changes campus-wide by early February fiscal plan deadlines with only the vaguest notions of their impacts. The plan is, according to an interview with a top administrator published in the most recent Independent Collegian, to cast out many seeds and "see what grows." This experimental garden, as most senators articulated in many different ways, seems a costly recipe for disaster. Utter madness. Stay tuned."
Print Version of Dictionary of Academia Available on Amazon.com
The profound ruminations of the goaty Sage are now available in this 119 page satirical masterpiece. See: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1480292494/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B009RC0SJA&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1JV8N5BYAYY9WC9SJWD2
"Dictionary of Academia" Read it While it's Hot
A MUST READ FOR ALL ACADEMICS! Now on Amazon Kindle. Click on Professor Goat above to be directed to the book.
Comment of the Week
"This is that old tension between the corporate way of doing things and the academic way of doing things. In the corporate world, you sweep everything under the rug to make your b.s. as shiny, pleasing to the nose, and profitable as possible. In the academic world, you operate with a higher moral standard. Veritas and all that."
Comment of the Week of August 13
Re UT academic posers and hypocrites:
Have their checks calculated in units of postmodern theoretical currency and issued in photocopied legal tender notes signed by Walter Benjamin with a photo of Karl Marx and a seal stamped “In Derrida We Trust”.
Comment of the Era
Wow! Ain't that something.
-Anonymous
Comment of the Week
Mention goes to the the anonymous commentator of Feb 7, who, regarding UT President Llloyd Jacob's "Investing in Faculty" letter, stated: "If we could use the same criteria for 'investing in administrators' we could cut most of those positions."
Comments to HLC
Make sure you address your comments to HLC to the email address listed below in the "Higher Learning Commission Wants to Know" post. This may be the only chance you have to be heard. Bloggie hears that UT administration has discussed giving faculty "training" so that faculty members know how to "properly" talk to the HLC folks. How's that for stacking the deck? Does everyone get a little script to read? Make sure you practice before a mirror at being bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Comment of the Week!
Definitely, the Comment of the Week award goes to Anonymous 12:14 pm, Dec 3, under the "Higher Learning Commission Needs to Know" posting by Diogenes. Pithy and pointed!
--Love,
Bloggie
MESSAGE OF THE DAY:
DON'T BE A SHEEP
Independent Collegian Article on Dicey Administrative Spending
IC reporter Casey Cheap looks at bow ties, apartments and movie tickets purchased by UT administrators at university/public expense. See
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Letter and Petition from Foreign Languages Faculty Member
A couple weeks ago, at the beginning of summer break, we in the Department of Foreign Languages were informed that our secretary's position was being eliminated and that while she will not lose her job (she'll be transferred), that position is not to be filled. We apparently will be expected to do our own jobs plus what we can of the secretary's. That is clearly not acceptable, and so one of the steps we in FL are taking against it is an online petition now available for any who want to (including those who for whatever reason--not a registered Ohio voter, not a US citizen, etc.--cannot sign the petition against SB5), to read and sign.
I know not everyone on the blog will be interested in this; I'm not asking anyone who doesn't want to, to sign or even read the petition. I do think that there are many who would be interested and would want to sign it--if they knew about it.
It's scary to post this under my own name; I'm as afraid as anyone of repercussions. But this is simply too important to keep quiet on, and we have to do something! FL is not the first department that this has happened to, and it's almost certain not to be the last if we don't speak up in a way that the administration will hear us and in a way that makes clear that other people are seeing that it's going on.
Here's the link to the online petition:For those who can make it, there will also be an informational meeting--including lunch and petition-signing--next Friday, May 27 in FH 2420, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
I know not everyone on the blog will be interested in this; I'm not asking anyone who doesn't want to, to sign or even read the petition. I do think that there are many who would be interested and would want to sign it--if they knew about it.
It's scary to post this under my own name; I'm as afraid as anyone of repercussions. But this is simply too important to keep quiet on, and we have to do something! FL is not the first department that this has happened to, and it's almost certain not to be the last if we don't speak up in a way that the administration will hear us and in a way that makes clear that other people are seeing that it's going on.
Here's the link to the online petition:For those who can make it, there will also be an informational meeting--including lunch and petition-signing--next Friday, May 27 in FH 2420, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Katherine Best
Wave of the Future or Merely Sometime Later This Week?
The Chronicle of Higher Education ran a deeply fascinating article called, "When to Dissolve a Faculty Senate." Apparently this is any time that it becomes "adversarial" to administration.
The online comments to the article are priceless.
Nemeth on Mammon in IC
David Nemeth's most recent tour-de-force
Professor Nemeth has another fabulous and timely article in the new and increasingly wonderful Independent Collegian. See http://www.independentcollegian.com/forum/the-kraken-attacks-1.2340091
Nemeth Does it Again
See the forum article in The Independent Collegian at:
Nemeth's New Article in Collegian
The Independent Collegian has run another of Professor Nemeth's fine and provocative articles in its latest edition. This one discusses the double-talk by mouthpieces for the current UT administration concerning the effects of and reasons behind so-called strategic reorganization. Make sure you get the latest version of Newspeak 5.1 if you want to decode what UT administrators are really saying.
UT Ranks 13th Nationally on Administrative Bloat
See Appendix B of the Administrative Bloat report posted on 8/28 for evidence, but UT now has a higher proportion of administrators to students than all but 12 public universities in America. President Jacobs has finally put University of Toledo in the top tier. With Strategic Organization he may be aiming for number one.
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Recent Letters from The Blade
Jacobs' arrogance is astonishing
Recently, President Lloyd Jacobs of the University of Toledo stated that bonuses were justified because his administrators "took all the risks."
As a professor at UT, I am outraged that President Jacobs claims that administrators take all of the risks. What risks do they take that the other faculty and staffs on campus do not?
Administrators are protected by state and federal employment laws and by their contracts.
When ex-President Vik Kapoor was terminated, he remained a professor with a salary near what he was paid as president.
As president emeritus, Dan Johnson retained a salary greater than his pay as president.
In the recent layoffs, exceptionally few administrators were terminated. It seems to me that low-level personnel at UT have far more risks because the greater proportion of the layoffs have come from their ranks. And they did not have continuing salaries.
President Jacobs' answer to questions on two occasions regarding relinquishing part of his bonus was to the effect that he earned his bonuses and what he did with them was his business.
Administrators do not risk their personal money in their duties: they use taxpayer money and funds collected through donations and grants to the university.
Administrators take home salaries in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and then add bonuses for longevity and whatever else the president decides is fitting for their contracts.
However, the lower-level personnel have much lower salaries and no such bonuses. Where is the risk?
It seems to me that these bonuses are convoluted: The lower-level personnel are taking the greater risks with no bonuses while the administrators with very rewarding jobs with little risk receive large bonuses.
Am I missing something here?
WALTER W. OLSON,
Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing
Engineering,
University of Toledo
It's the same old, same old at UT
I could hardly believe the arrogance of Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, president of the University of Toledo, when a reporter asked if he would be willing to forgo his bonus in light of the layoffs, raise in tuition, etc.
His comment was that he worked for it. Is that to say that the ones being laid off did not work for their pay?
All I can say is, business as usual at UT. Some things never change.
SANDY FLICK
Rose Acres Drive
UT also has checks, balances
In response to letter titled "Professors must focus on teaching," I would like to point out that the University of Toledo operates on the basis of shared governance.
This means that faculty members participate in the administration of the university.
A focus on teaching requires faculty to address administrative issues such as policies, procedures, and yes, finances, because these all affect classroom outcomes. A university with solid and equitable finances benefits everyone, including and especially the students. Just as the U.S. government is constituted to have checks and balances, so is our university government.
The UT-AAUP is one of those checks against UT administrators who most recently have displayed more concern for their own profit rather than a concern for the common good.
LINDA M. ROUILLARD,
Associate Professor
of French,
University of Toledo
Quote of the Year (so far)
The following is excerpted from the recent UT AAUP newsletter concerning the official university response to news of the bonus scandal:
. . . . Either Jacobs is misleading the media or he has misled the Board of Trustees. President Jacobs objected to "the general tone" of the UT-AAUP Newsletter. Many persons on this campus object to the "general tone" of the Jacobs Administration. During his tenure as President, he has introduced an administrative culture of fear and intimidation. . . . A point of logic must be raised here, with all respect to UT AAUP, the conclusions that President Jacobs has (1) misled the media and (2) the Board of Trustees are not mutually exclusive. Both would seem likely given his considerable talent at spinning "visions." |
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17 comments:
So why hasn't O'Brien been terminated yet? First it was the point shaving scandal and now a sexual predator on his staff for over a decade. Where is the supervision? Not sure what has brought more shame and negative public attention to UT, our illustrious hospital or our idiotic athletic program.
Too bad Pope Jacobs gives no evidence of being aware of how his limitations short-change UT. I believe he has mistaken his incomprehension for infallibility.
In today's Collegian, some student by the name of Paulette Bongratz is quoted: "The faculty has already accepted the workload changes."
Really?
The difference is someone who serves others and someone who serves himself.
Paulette Bongratz is the student government president.
You cannot go by what the bubble gum journalism that the IC churns out. What did you expect: they are the future Toledo Blade, BOT, and other UT administrator hopefuls wearing those cheesy UT bow ties.
As for Pope Jacobicus I (and hopefully Last), refer to the discussion on medievalism in the other threads. UT is not 600 years old yet, so he will not resign any time soon.
The same dilemma though: the Pope implanted all those conservative cardinals as potential successors, and Jacobs built his empire with 20 some more lapdog loyalist administrators. We can see the medieval style inbreeding revitalized in modern context that evidently favors the far right: nobility+church vs. peasants/
administration+BOT vs. faculty -- now it would be a false dichotomy if you compare them just on the basis of intellect, but a true dichotomy if you look at political alliances. Neither power system tolerates real intellectuals.
This is a warfare on academic freedom, intellectualism, and independent thought.
Time for a vote of no-confidence in Jacobs and the BOT. Jacobs has been depleting the coffers of the academic enterprise to prop up the hospital, and the BOT have been playing monkey see-nothing, hear-nothing, say-nothing and do-nothing.They gotta go.
Definitely agreed about vote of no-confidence! In fact, UT will not need to wait another 500 years to see a UT administrator step down. UT's Bastille Day should be much sooner. Let's celebrate with the French on July 14!
A symbolic "decapitation" would mean that those greedy thugs in UT Administration and BOT would see themselves separated form their power and influence over education, academia, and intellectual freedom.
You cannot go by what the bubble gum journalism that the IC churns out. //
Oh, did Paulette Bongratz not actually say that?
Do you think that the The Blade chews gum, too?
"Oh, did Paulette Bongratz not actually say that?"
The comment was not made about Paulette but about the IC (it is no longer the independent voice it used to be...). You can use your position to say anything, but if the IC decides to publish it, both are parties to mass deception. Obviously, the statement did not reflect the truth, and just because it comes down in a paper, it does not turn a privileged statement (from the SG president) into truth. There is a difference -- wake up!
As for the Blade, it needs to bring attention more explicitly to the UT administratorial excesses, BOT cronyism, and anything that it has been failing to inform Toledo taxpayers. UT is a mess despite all the dog-and-pony show from these administrators to misinform the public. Surely, you can put a lot of politically aligned misinformation and call it news -- it may just as well be another case of bubble gum journalism.
Strongly suggest that people evaluate this proposed policy that strips everyone of budgeting authority except the infallible one and his minions.
The following policy has been added:
Finance
Policy Name: Draft 3364-40-01 Budget control
Description: (Minor/technical revision of existing policy) The vice president of finance is designated as the chief fiscal officer for the university. All expenditures must be budgeted each fiscal year prior to being spent. Only the president, subject to board approval, may approve a request to budget funds. Only requests that appear in a unit’s system-loaded budget have been approved. Budget procedures will be issued annually and can be found on the office of budget and planning web site. Revisions to the policy are tracked in the copy posted for comment. This policy will also supersede 3364-40-02 Budget amendment policy.
Scope: This policy applies to all University of Toledo campuses
Comment Period: February 19, 2013 – March 21, 2013
Comment on this policy: 3364-40-01
Please direct any comments or questions regarding the policies posted for comment to policies@utoledo.edu or click on the icon under “comment on this policy.” Please state the name of the policy in the subject line. Comments received on the policy will be forwarded to the policy’s responsible agent or agent’s designee.
That's a good point, Anon 6:40. The IC is playing a CNN-like role here by parroting "all sides of the story" whether or not they have any basis in reality.
This touches on the broader issue of how the pro-university side can make our case better in the media. We don't have the money to hire our own Larry Burns, not that we would want to. Nemeth may have had the right idea with his op-eds a few years ago.
Thanks, Anon. 2/19/2013, 8:35 AM (I am starting to get used to these futuristic name)
The difference between CNN and IC is huge. There is space for all perspective. IC belies its own name. "Collegian" should be enough...
I do remember Nemeth's columns: critical and informative.
"Strongly suggest that people evaluate this proposed policy that strips everyone of budgeting authority except the infallible one and his minions."
Pope Jacobicus and his minions are the anointed ones; only they can something as sacred as budget. All ye sinners must accept his holiness's divine wisdom otherwise the gargoyles will be after you.
PS: my apologies for some unfortunate typos in my previous message sent hastily and w/o proofreading: 1: "I am starting to get used to these futuristic names" and 2 "There is space for all perspectives"
While I do not always agree with the IC, they make an important point today, as well as call Paulette out on the carpet!
http://www.independentcollegian.com/forum/ic-editorial-board-don-t-quiet-the-student-voice-1.2811938#.USTXG_LjFyI
Another remarkable parallel between the Pope and Lloydie: Both could say farewell in Latin before the conclave (the 26+ UT superadmins + BOT) takes over to cover-up the dirty business of ther respective administrations. If the UT Hall chimney omits black smoke, it means they are burning self-incriminating documents, but if the smoke is colorless (methane), they are simply farting away.
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