posted December 10, 2007
Faculty and staff at UTC are mourning the sudden loss of a valued colleague, but not one that was flesh and bone. The recently departed is UTCSTAFF, an automated mailer that allowed any member of the faculty or staff to broadcast an e-mail message to the entire campus community. In these days of social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, an e-mail list was old fashioned, but its power to inform the campus was astounding. Perhaps too astounding for some, since based on the advice of the University's lawyers, the administration ordered UTCSTAFF shut down last week. As if to emphasize the point, the list was taken down before the decision was announced, making any comments or dissent impossible.
To some, the action sent a chilling message that public dialogue about issues facing the campus was no longer welcome. The UTC Faculty Senate passed a resolution expressing their dismay, and people grumbled in hallways, but the campus seemed strangely silent to me. Of course it did--there was no UTCSTAFF to voice our opinions.
For over 10 years UTCSTAFF had allowed any UTC employee to ask questions, make comments, and say whatever they liked to other faculty and staff. There were sometimes things being sold or given away, but the real value of UTCSTAFF was the sense of community that it fostered, it's unfiltered and yet respectful exchange of ideas. Anyone could comment on a campus event or decision. Was it always a good career move to do so? Of course not, but many people took the plunge and we were all the better for hearing those diverse opinions. Although discussions occasionally went off course, the majority of the dialogues were focused on issues and ideas that directly concerned the campus. Those that didn't want to hear it could unsubscribe, but the vast majority of the campus stayed tuned in and listening.
So far as I know, UTCSTAFF was unique in the UT system and one of the things that helped make UTC special. You couldn't imagine something like UTCSTAFF in the corporate world. Even if such a means of questioning authority existed, employees would likely be afraid to take part. But UTC is a university, where everything we do boils down to encouraging human beings to think, to broaden their perspectives, to take part in the inner dialogue we call learning. Many talented people who could make two to three times more
money elsewhere continue working at UTC precisely because they want to be in that kind of environment.
Evidently, this free expression was too much for some. Chuck Cantrell, Assistant Vice Chancellor, wrote that the lawyers had directed, "Our computers and e-mail system are to be used for official purposes, and not, among other personal uses, for our own personal expression or financial gain."
Chilling words. What exactly is "personal expression," particularly when it regards decisions being made about your campus or your job? If expressing yourself via computer on state time is forbidden, doesn't that logically mean that expression by other means is forbidden as well? In other words, at an institution where thinking is our core business, faculty and staff are being told not to think and for heaven’s sake not to express any opinions no matter how learned they might be on a topic.
I doubt the existence of a state law or University policy prohibiting an open dialogue about campus issues. If there were aspects of UTCSTAFF that violated policy ("for sale" items were an area of concern) then why was no attempt made to prohibit that practice while preserving other content? Indeed, many dozens of other e-mail lists still exist both on the Chattanooga and Knoxville campuses, some of them devoted entirely to personal topics and discussions. The difference seems to be that these other lists are small enough to slip under the radar, whereas UTCSTAFF had enough impact to get noticed.
Ironically, one of the last messages on UTCSTAFF was from Chancellor Roger Brown, echoing praise about the tremendous sense of community experienced at the recent UTC/UTK basketball game. How wonderful it was to know that the Chancellor remained an active participant, reading and sometimes responding just like the rest of us. It reminded me that years ago, when I was still brash enough to complain on UTCSTAFF about a decision I didn't like, a Vice Chancellor called me personally to explain the rationale for his actions. I have never forgotten the fact that a very busy man took the time to do that. Like Roger Brown, he apparently knew that it's usually better for leaders to know what people are saying about them, good or bad, because we're going to say it by one means or another.
Perhaps the campus, like nature, will find a way. Private efforts are ongoing (with the general support of Chuck Cantrell and other administrators) to establish a new list using non-state resources. It will be interesting to see who chooses to take part. Oh--in case any of the lawyers are reading this, I'll mention that I am writing it at home on m own computer. I wouldn't want to be found guilty of expressing an opinion.
Rodger Ling
Chattanooga
rodger@stationr.org
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