More to Come

After being plagued with computer issues for about a year, I am happy to announce that I am back online, ready to continue updates in the quest to save higher education. More to come in the near future.

An E-mail from Bart Gordon

I just received this e-mail from Bart Gordon:

Dear Wendy,

Thank you for sharing your support for funding for the MTSU Philosophy Department. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

Growing up in Middle Tennessee and as a third generation MTSU student, I understand the vital role the university plays in our community. I am pleased to hear how the university has positively influenced your life. In February, I supported the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As the funds become available to state governments and federal grants across the country, it is my hope that MTSU will benefit from this legislation to avoid cutting programs. Know I will support full funding for MTSU as we continue our work in the 111th Congress.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me again on this or any other issue.



Stay in touch,

BART GORDON
Member of Congress

Last Week's Student Forum

Last Thursday afternoon, MTSU President Sidney McPhee held an open forum for students to ask questions concerning the budget cuts. You can read about it here. I was unable to attend the forum, but I would like to make some comments based on what I have read and heard (from credible sources).

This was the only student forum, so I am discontent with the one-hour time frame of the forum. McPhee's presentation was 40 minutes long, leaving only 20 minutes for questions. He also claimed he was hosting an event in his home that evening and could not stay after the scheduled time. What convenient scheduling, and I can only assume the president chose this time for the forum.

From accounts I have read on the forum, he was again evasive with his answers, and he again spoke to students as though their concerns were due to them being misinformed and no the concners of adults who had read the recommendations and still had concerns.

I also feel I must address the students as well, as this has stirred up quite a bit of controversy (see the above article for specifics). While I agree that this perhaps was not the best way to get a message across, I also acknowledge why students feel this was the only way to be heard. McPhee has repeatedly demonstrated that he does not value student input, and he readily dismisses concerns students have about the budget cuts.

Could this be seen as disrespectful? Of course. Could McPhee's attitude toward students be seen as disrespectful? Definitely. We are fighting against each other because no one seems to be able to figure out how to work together. I don't want a fight, but I certainly won't back down if one is presented. I would much rather sit in a room and talk about the issues, but my attempts to set this up have been ignored. These students actually got an audience with McPhee, so I guess that must have been less than satisfying.

I will refrain from commenting further until I give McPhee adequate time to respond to my questions. Here is the e-mail I sent him today:

President McPhee,

I am currently updating my blog to reflect comments and observations on the student forum held like week, and I would appreciate your comments so that I can include your viewpoint. From what I have gathered, the main concerns students had are as follows:

1. Why was the forum only an hour, with such limited time for students to ask questions? Why wasn't it scheduled at a time when you could have devoted a larger portion of the forum to addressing student concerns?

2. Students have commented that your usual answers involve telling students to read the recommendations. This gives students the impression that you believe most of them are simply uniformed and would not object otherwise. What would you say to students who have read the report and find these remarks dismiss their concerns?

3. Why do you think the turnout was as low as it was? Do you believe it can be attributed to the many students who leave Thursday because they do not have Friday classes? Do you believe students do not care? Do you believe students have given up on voicing their concerns?

4. I, and others, have heard that as president there are certain perks you have, including a personal chef for your wife. Are these statements true, or are these rumors put forth to stir controversy? If they are true, would you be willing to forgo these benefits until a more financially appropriate time?

Finally, I have a question for you, and I do hope you answer it:

If you must make cuts that affect academic programs, are you willing to make a statement, confirmed in writing and signed, that these are cuts are a one-time decision in a time of crisis and that the university will take steps to better plan for the future to avoid such problems in the years ahead?

I thank you for your time and consideration, and would greatly appreciate a phone call or e-mail reply.

Sincerely,
Wendy K. Caldwell

I have sent McPhee an e-mail requesting he address the main c

Answers from Gebert

I think the viral threat is over, and I am happy to resume posting. I received a response from Kaylene Gebert today. I grow fonder of her each time we communicate. If all administrators took the time to actually read and respond to concerns, our universities would be in much better shape.

She addresses a few of the concerns I have, and she left the option open to submit more. If anyone reading this has concerns of their own, feel free to leave them as a comment, and I'll be sure to include them.

Here is her response:

Dear Wendy,
I have been behind in responding to email. It's been a busy time. Yes,
athletics will be taking cuts as well. Parking fees are part of an auxillary.
That is, the parking enterprise, including fees and building lots, etc. is
"self-sufficient" and is not supported by state dollars.
The cuts, etc. are a part of the state budget. Please understand that we must
cut $19.3M. That is a huge sum and will not be met by parking or ticket fee
increases.
I will be glad to respond to your suggestions by email.
Best wishes,
Kaylene

Updates Coming Soon

I aplogize for not updating as regularly lately. I have been dealing with computer and Internet issues this week. My Internet is working again, but I am having some serious malware/spyware issues with a possible Trojan horse virus. Once I have that remedied, I will resume more frequent posting. Thank you for following this site. I look forward to posting on the Lyceum and forum.

Students Challenge McPhee at Forum

I was unable to attend the forum today, but I have been anxiously awaiting the outcome. The Daily News Journal posted a story recapping the event on their Web site. You can read it here

Stay tuned for a post concerning yesterday's Applied Philosophy Lyceum - it was great!

Student Forum Could Lead to Rallying Cry

The Daily News Journal ran an article today about a plan to call for McPhee's resignation at today's student forum, scheduled at 4 p.m. I certainly didn't want to ruin the element of surprise, so I waited until now to post it. Check out the story here.

Special thanks to Kristin Hall for sending me an e-mail with the link.

McPhee meets with students, refuses to sign pledge

Sidney McPhee's Monday meeting with members of Coaltion to Save Our Schools was recapped in both The Daily News Journal and on WSMV (Channel 4) news. You can read the DNJ article here. If you want to check out Channel 4's coverage, click here.

Another Letter in the DNJ

The Daily News Journal ran another of my letters. It actually appeared in yesterday's issue, but I didn't discover that until just now. Here is the link: McPhee puts future of university in jeopardy.

UPDATE: This letter also ran in Sidelines the same day.

McPhee's Last Words

At least, they are his last words to me. I met him at the forum Wednesday, and he recognized my e-mail address. Here is the e-mail he sent me moments ago (not signed, not fully punctuated):

Please do not send me any more emails. I will not be reading them

Am I going to heed this request? Of course not. He certainly hasn't heeded any of mine. Will I be forwarding the e-mail? Naturally. This disregard for legitimate concerns is an embarassment to the university, and his behavior is unprofessional and unbecoming a university president.

"IF THE HIGHEST AIM OF A CAPTAIN WERE TO PRESERVE HIS SHIP, HE WOULD KEEP IT IN PORT FOREVER." - ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

“IF THE HIGHEST AIM OF A CAPTAIN WERE TO PRESERVE HIS SHIP, HE WOULD KEEP IT IN PORT FOREVER.” – ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

St. Thomas Aquinas was a significant figure and is included in A&E’s list of the 100 most influential people of the last millennium. While I disagree with his arguably misogynist views, I could not agree more with him in this instance.

Aquinas was an empiricist, and, thus, greatly influenced Western thought. If we go strictly on empirical data, there is no reason to change the Philosophy Department. The department makes money, and while it does not have an abundance of majors, it has grown tremendously over the years. It still graduates an average of 10 students per year.

Further evidence shows that philosophy majors score higher than other majors on the academic profile exam given to graduating seniors as well as such exams as the GRE, MCAT, LSAT, and GMAT. Many schools look favorably on philosophy majors because of the emphasis on reasoning, making these majors ideal candidates for careers in such fields as the medical community and legal system.

Ignoring this data would be a tremendous error. If we wish for our university to be considered a great one, we must respect the greatness that is already evident.

McPhee Addresses Faculty, Dismisses Studens at Forum

While on campus Wednesday, I caught the end of one of MTSU President Sidney McPhee's faculty forums. Sidelines covered the story, and you can read it here.

What I found especially disturbing was how flippantly he dismissed a legitimate question. This goes to the heart of one of the main complaints about McPhee - his unwillingness to listen to other points of view. If he is unwilling even to answer a student's question in a forum setting, how are we to trust him to ask and answer tough questions of the TBR and law-making bodies?

Again, he insinuated that the students who disagreed with him were misinformed. With this assumption, it is no wonder he is not in touch with the wants and needs of the university and its student body. McPhee refuses to acknowledge there are legitimate opposing viewpoints.

I encourage those who protest these budget cuts not to let themselves be silenced by these dismissals.

"PEOPLE HAVE MANAGED TO AVERT THEIR EYES AND HOPE FOR THE BEST." - DAVID CHALMERS

“PEOPLE HAVE MANAGED TO AVERT THEIR EYES AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.” – DAVID CHALMERS

David Chalmers points out a commonality here. Too often, people avoid putting forth the effort to stand up to injustice on any level. It is disheartening that people feel so powerless or apathetic that they choose to do nothing. We cannot allow this mentality to become the norm.

This quotation reminds me of the “duck and cover” defense regarding possible nuclear attacks. As my high school history teacher once said, “I guess I just won’t see it hit me.” This defense is completely ludicrous for nuclear attacks, and it is equally so for attacks on education.

If we do nothing, if we simply cross our fingers and hope things will work out, we are sure to be disappointed. Change does not come easy, and if we are to change the minds of administrators, we must take action. We cannot give up, no matter how difficult the task seems.

Likewise, those with the power to change these recommendations must take action. Blindly going along with these cuts is surely to prove detrimental to the university, though by the time they realize this, it could be too late. I urge people on both sides to take action and fight for what is best for our students’ higher education.

DNJ Article

Today's edition of The Daily News Journal carried a story, "McPhee knocked over plan for cuts," on the front page. In addition to using a few quotations from me, several from philosophy professor Dr. Michael Principe and social work associate professor John Sanborn. You can read that article here.

"WE STILL BY NO MEANS THINK DECISIVELY ENOUGH ABOUT THE ESSENCE OF ACTION." - MARTIN HEIDEGGER

“WE STILL BY NO MEANS THINK DECISIVELY ENOUGH ABOUT THE ESSENCE OF ACTION.” – MARTIN HEIDEGGER

MTSU is certainly guilty of this. Instead of being proactive, as a university should be, we are currently being reactive. This is a result of poor planning and lack of foresight. The consequences, of course, will be felt most by the powerless – those who do not have a say in how the budgeted dollars are spent.

Is it not the job of a university to constantly strive to be more efficient and cost effective? It should not take massive budget cuts for administrators to consider what temperature unoccupied buildings are. It should not take budget cuts to consider suspending overtime pay. In more cases than not, overtime is usually a result of a lack of efficiency or picking up slack. If a certain position constantly requires overtime, and the position is operating as it should, perhaps it is not possible to perform all of the required functions in a 40-hour work week. Such issues should be addressed immediately, not brushed off until the university is under financial pressure.

Time and again, those steering the MTSU ship have let us down. Time and again, students’ and faculty members’ concerns are not heard. Telling us our views will be taken into consideration is patronizing, especially when the response gives no indication that the communication was even read/heard. If we continue to settle for mediocrity, we will never rise above it.

Updates Coming Soon

Still no word from President McPhee's office, although I have had some e-mail interaction with John Sanborn, writer of the previously linked Sidelines column. It is certainly refreshing to have such determined, passionate faculty members who truly want what is best for MTSU and its students.

I will have more updates today. Due to storms, I experienced power outages over the weekend. I was sans Internet for many hours.

“ONE MAN SEES CLEARLY BUT DOES NOT SEE STRAIGHT: CONSEQUENTLY HE SEES WHAT IS GOOD BUT FAILS TO FOLLOW IT."– MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE

“ONE MAN SEES CLEARLY BUT DOES NOT SEE STRAIGHT: CONSEQUENTLY HE SEES WHAT IS GOOD BUT FAILS TO FOLLOW IT; HE SEES KNOWLEDGE AND DOES NOT USE IT.” – MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE

No good can come from the unwillingness to use knowledge whenever possible. A degree is a degree, but true wisdom and knowledge cannot be measured simply by the existence of a diploma.

What is a PhD? In the wake of all of this budget controversy, it seems the ones in charge have forgotten that many of them possess PhDs. A PhD is, of course, a degree awarded to someone who has satisfied the requirements to be considered a doctor of philosophy in a particular subject.

What does this mean? Purely stated, a person possessing this degree has a clear understanding of the philosophy of an area of study. For instance, a PhD in mathematics must certainly be able to grasp number theory, foundations of mathematics, and the reasoning behind mathematical proofs. A PhD in another subject must understand the origins and thought processes governing that subject. It is no wonder, then, that obtaining such a degree requires defense of a thesis instead of merely an aptitude test.

If MTSU were to eliminate philosophy as a major or independent department, are we to no longer honor the distinction of those with PhDs? If a medical doctor ignores the Hippocratic Oath or commits an act that compromises the integrity of the medical profession, he or she can lose the license and right to practice medicine. If President Sidney McPhee fails to honor the necessity of philosophy, he forfeits his right to be called Dr. McPhee.

Faculty Member Calls for McPhee's Removal

In the latest issue of MTSU's student newspaper Sidelines, John Sanborn wrote an opinion piece about President Sidney McPhee. Sanborn is a faculty member in the Department of Social Work, and the column, "Why MTSU should cut McPhee," really highlights some of the core issues with the leader of the university. It is an excellent read.

A Congressional Phone Call

This morning, I got a phone call from Tennessee District 6 Congressman Bart Gordon. I have always thought highly of the Congressman, as I think he truly embodies what a Congressman is: a representative of the people.

We talked for about 5 minutes, until he got paged for a vote, although 5 minutes in DC time is impressive. He, too, went to MTSU, and is concerned of the potential effects of the budget cuts. He has been following the story as well. He mentioned the government stimulus, which will probably sustain everything for the next two years. He also assured me that no one really wants to make cuts, but they have to cut what TBR says.

Based on his understanding of the situation, he said few, if any, programs will be cut completely. He said a possibility is some majors being only offered as minors, but, again, it probably won't be for a few years. He also said he has been told that those currently involved in the programs will be allowed to stay and complete their degrees.

He suggested that I keep following the story as I am now and that I say involved. I certainly intend to do just that. Here is hoping that others realize that MTSU alumni, regardless of current situations, will be affected by these budget cuts, and it is cause for concern.

Have You Contacted Your Congressman Lately?

I've reached out to District 6 Congressman Bart Gordon recently, and I will provide updates as they are available. His scheduling people e-mailed me to verify my contact information, so I'm hopeful that I will be contacted again. Here is my e-mail to Congressman Gordon:

Congressman Gordon,

I am writing you today to ask for your help. Middle Tennessee State University has proposed budget cuts that would greatly undermine the integrity of the university, and so far students’ concerns appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

I myself am a former MTSU student who majored in Philosophy and Applied Mathematics, both of which are in jeopardy right now. My greatest concern is the Department of Philosophy. I took my first philosophy class as a general requirement, but I loved it so much that I added it as a minor, which then became a major.

I have the utmost respect for this department. All of the instructors have terminal degrees, an academic standard that would be best in all areas of study. The professors are passionate about knowledge, and they inspire their students. Taking philosophy classes changed my life and the way I thought about the world. To deny future students that opportunity saddens me. MTSU should not be willing to sacrifice education while focusing too much funding on non-educational programs and activities.

I’ve been doing some research into the nation’s top 100 universities, and it is no surprise that, as I go down the list, I have yet to find an institution that does not offer philosophy at least at the baccalaureate level. Because MTSU is a public university funded by taxpayers, I believe the administrators should be held accountable for their decisions.

Sadly, this has not been the case. I have written letters, sent e-mails, and left phone messages that have not been returned. Philosophy is a valuable discipline. Students who study philosophy score higher on tests such as the GMAT, the LSAT, and the MCAT. It does not cease to be valuable because a committee with inadequate liberal arts representation suggests it be eliminated or merged with another department.

Philosophy is not an afterthought; it quite the contrary. Philosophy is the basis for all we learn, as well as for all we can prove. Without philosophy, we would have no rules of deduction. Furthermore, recent reports indicate that books philosophical in nature, such as Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, have had tremendous sales increases. It is not unusual that in times of uncertainty people look to philosophy to help them address the unknowable.

Someone needs to take a stand, because Tennessee’s higher learning cannot afford to suffer during these tough times. MTSU should aspire to greatness, not mediocrity. More undergraduates attend MTSU than any other Tennessee university, and MTSU should be willing and able to serve the academic needs of those students at all times.

I am humbly asking you to help keep education a priority. I know you care deeply about this state, as you have continued to serve its people for many years, and I know you could make a difference. Please urge the TBR and legislature not to approve budgets that do not support fundamental educational programs. If we deem philosophy unnecessary, what is next to go? We must preserve the integrity of the university as an institution of higher learning instead of making a mockery of it.