David Green, Pernell Bartlett, and I attended the first of the public hearings for the Leadership Statement Committee, which was held in Asheville at UNCA.
Only a small handful of folks commented, although the room was nearly full (I would estimate 50 – 60 people). The comments were very thoughtful -- and for the most part quite critical. It was good to see Till Dohse (UNCA Mathematics; Faculty Assembly Executive Committee), and a former student of mine, Wilson Parker, stand up and say their piece.
The format, which will be the same for all of the meetings, is somewhat problematic. Members of the Leadership Statement Committee and the Board of Governors have no role other than listening to comments. This might be a suitable arrangement if there were many people who wanted to have their say, but I suspect that a number of people in the room probably hoped to hear something from the Board members, if not the Committee members.
Perhaps I will change my assessment after the other meetings in Greenville, Durham, and Charlotte, but the immediate impression is that this format is problematic for two reasons:
The first is that the format is somewhat intimidating for participants. They have to stand up at a microphone, they are being recorded on a video livestream, and they are limited to three minutes. This requires some degree of self-confidence and organization, but these are requirements that could be easily mitigated with a format in which (for example) a conversational give-and-take might be used.
The second is that the level of discontent about this whole process very likely brings people to these meetings to hear the Board speak, and to have the chance to ask them questions. This format – which basically gives the Board a pass to sit in silence and listen – will, I predict, generate some negative feedback.
More, perhaps, after the Greenville meeting.
Steve Leonard
