Dr. John Shumaker, former President of the University of Louisville will become the 21st President of the University of Tennessee system. After his unanimous approval by the Board of Trustees. Why was he selected over Dr. Marlene I. Strathe, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Northern Colorado? What did he have that she did not have? What has been his true track record at the previous universities where's been at? What is the reaction of students at the University of Louisville concerning his departure? On this page are various comments and questions that I have thought about concerning this University, how to make it better and the incoming President. Check out the various links, read the questions and the comments, and go from there.
Comments from Irucka Embry, me, at the “open” forum, 1 March 2002 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville:
**On the topic of research, I commented to Dr. Shumaker that in the College of Engineering there are professor(s) that have told students that they don't care about the students, they are there to do research, yet they are forced to teach. (I'm in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering).
**On the topic of trust and accountability, I mentioned how former University of Tennessee President Gilley first did not support the Agriculture-main campus bridge, then he was acquainted with the Board of Trustees, he changed his opinion. I asked him if what he told us now would change when he arrived back at Univeristy of Tennessee.
**I mentioned how it had been said that the “racial” climate at Univeristy of Louisivlle had worsened since he had been there, and asked him if it was true?
**On the topic of a Living Wage, I mentioned that Japanese (businesses/corporations/companies) take money from the top managers to provide for the welfare of the lower paid workers when they are in financial trouble. Also, though I did not mention this, everyone wears a uniform so that there is no distinction between the managers and the lowest paid workers. I said that money should be taken from the INFLATED salaries of the administrators to deal with the Living Wage issue. Dr. Shumaker mentioned also too that money could be taken from the athletic department – coaches and other high paid people.
**Related to the idea of uniforms, I made a comment to the audience. I had been told about people's reaction to me, not being in business attire and whatever other comments they made about me. As well, when I was up there to speak before the forum ended, I heard people mumbling about me too. So I asked that anyone that had a problem with the way I was dressed to speak up, to speak their minds, and questioned intellectualism, business attire, and something else. Who determines those standards and why? (I don't really remember all that I said, but that was what it was directed towards.)
**In terms of discrimination, I mentioned freedom of speech and cheating and sexual harassment. I said that cheating could be considered to be protected by the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, protection of freedom of speech and that there were guidelines for punishment of that offense – possible expulsion from school. As well, sexual harassment could be considered freedom of speech and there are punishments for that as well. So what about discrimination? Shouldn't there also be some guidelines for punishment for that offense as well? Dr. Shumaker mentioned that laws guideline the various levels concerning discrimination and what it is and is not and how far someone can go and all that.
I felt that I was being avoided there at the forum, the moderator, who was he?, wanted to skip over me to ask other people their comments. But, I wasn't having that; I said EXCUSE ME and made my first comments and questions. I stayed at the microphone waiting for others to speak so that I could speak again. Since no one was in the line behind me, I figured why not continue being up there. Eventually one person did get in the line behind me. Since I was late to work, I asked a friend in the audience to make a comment and question for me. But when I heard what people were saying about me, I decided to make my own comments and address some issues that needed to be addressed. For those that were there, did any of you feel that I was being avoided too?
Also, when I had spoken with various comments/questions, there was a call from the moderator to limit the questions/comments to 1 or 2 so that others could speak if they wished to. This comment was made twice; I was standing up at the microphone both of these times. Also, an older male, Caucasian, spoke for at least 5 or more minutes and I don't recall anyone making a comment while he was standing up to limit comments or questions.
Did any of you feel unwanted and/or intimidated at the Presidential Forum? Did anyone feel patronized by the answers of Dr. Shumaker, felt that he was providing a great “smoke screen”, and so forth?
Note: The following comments were made to the Presidential Search website, sent to DR. Hodges by e-mail, and will be sent to Dr. Shumaker at U of L as well. Just so you know.
Comments to the Presidential Search website:
With regard to the goal of the search:
The goal of the search should be to find someone that cares about education and not "schooling", thus someone wishing to go against the grain of "schooling" and possibly the Board of Trustees. Someone willing to stand up for the faculty, staff, students, and University community and work to create a better world through a better University built on some of the comments mentioned in the "other comments" section.
With regard to the plan for the search:
The candidates, the current two finalists, should visit each of the UT campuses so that the University community (faculty, staff, students, and other) can discuss with them issues of concern to each of the campuses and thus the University system as a whole as well as to meet and greet with a potential new President for the system. This may and may not give us an idea of the commitment that this individual will have towards changing UT from a research corporation to an actual educational center. There are “professors” on this campus who care more about research and their private endeavors than “teaching” students on this campus.
With regard to the job description:
The President should be willing to meet with the University community on each campus at least a couple times a semester or more, if possible. The President should be a patient and caring person that recognizes the complexities of a University system such as UT and the elements of this University that wish for only minor reforms and not transformation, as this University needs a major transformation. But, this can only happen if the President realizes that the goals of making UT better means changing for the better the whole system from schooling to education beginning with pre-school and heading up to post-doctoral studies. These thoughts and changes are not easy. But they are necessary if we are to “practice what we preach”. Overall the President will have to recognize that UT is not perfect and will have to want to search for the truth about this University and publicly acknowledge what many already know or fear that this University is not perfect, has done wrong, and needs to do better on many
accounts.
Also, the President should read the campus newspapers at each of the campuses to see what students are talking about. As well as publications of the staff, faculty, and other University community members.
Other comments:
I would like for the presidential candidates to respond to the comments below:
Since students are required to abide by an Honor Statement, shouldn't the administrators (including the incoming President of the University of Tennessee system) and the Board of Trustees (BOT), those that ultimately run this University or the corporations that the BOT represents, be required to abide by an Honor Statement of some sort as well?
It could be an "Environmental Statement of Integrity and Wholeness" and some provisions within could be any of the following and more: No intimidation/threats, harassment, discrimination, unlawful/unjustified termination of members of the independent union on campus [United Campus Workers (UCW)] and all other people employed by the University of Tennessee system in any location or by contract companies. Work with the University community to enact a Living Wage and show respect, humanity and dignity to all of the University community. Pursue sustainable development/smart growth practices for all future plans. Establish a working commitment to organic agriculture; recycling; waste/energy reduction; composting; planting native plants/trees; procurement of recycled products; encourage alternative models of instruction, research, interactions; and so on. Include voting representatives, with equal power to other members, who truly represent the students, staff, and faculty on the Board of Trustees. And lastly
a commitment to peace in all of its policies, practices, relationships, interactions and so on with all.
Questions/comments for “open” forum tonight, 6 March 2002, Wednesday [I had wanted to ask those questions of Dr. Shumaker at that forum, but I was not able to do so. Even so, I still think that they need to be asked of him at one point in time and we need to think about these questions as well so I include them here.]:
1) Why did you leave each of the previous universities?
2) Did you read the student newspapers at each of the previous schools? Do you value the opinions of students, faculty, staff, and the rest of the University community?
3) What are your goals for this university?
4) Are you willing to stand up to the Board of Trustees for the University community, if necessary?
5) Some people employed by ARAMARK make less than the federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour, is this right? What will you do to change this? This may and may not be true for other contract companies. If it is true, how will you work to change this?
6) The UT system is reimbursed for energy expenses, so there is no incentive for UT to conserve energy. Will you think about working with the State of Tennessee to change that policy so that the State can save that needed money in this budget crisis?
7) Should students be worried about losing their scholarships or being expelled from the University for participating in political activities (rallies, meetings, protests, etc.)? Should employees of this University or contract companies be worried about being fired, intimidated, harassed or violated in some other way for joining the independent campus union, United Campus Workers, going to a meeting, taking information from United Campus Worker members or supporters, or associating with those members or supporters?
8) Comments have been made about extending discrimination to include sexual orientation, but what about also extending discrimination to political ideology/action as well. Two other types of discrimination that have not been mentioned at the various forums, that I know about, are sex and disability discrimination. How does the wages of women compare to men in the same jobs? How does this vary in between “racial” categories? Why? Is this the same at the University of Louisville or other Universities where you've been? In terms of people with disabilities, much of the campus needs repair; there are bathroom doors that are marked “handicapped accessible”, yet they are hard to open because of their weight and having to turn the doorknob. As well, the sidewalks are in need of repair too.
9) What is your responsibility to the University community and what is your responsibility to the Board of Trustees?
10) What were comments/questions from the forums at the other UT campuses, if you've visited others already?
11) What has been the reaction from the University community at the University of Louisville concerning your decision to leave? Are any students ready for you to leave? If so, why?
12) Will you be accessible to other campuses as well, since this is a University system and not just one campus here in Knoxville?
13) Why did you choose the University of Tennessee?
14) In terms of doing what is right, is it right to have business relationships with various entities, such as Lockheed Martin, Y-12, Tennessee Valley Authority, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, General Electric Company, and so on?
15) Lastly, in The Daily Beacon, the student newspaper, at the University of Tennessee Knoxville campus, there was a column written by Jeff Slagg, ”Shumaker will have his charismatic hands full”, where this question was asked, “Dr. Shumaker, can you change this university?”
