I Want My Porsche Cayenne
Academics aren't immune to economic downturns. In my English department, we were asked to consider giving up our individual office phones to save the university money. Fine; I turned mine in. We were asked to keep some of the lights off in the interior hallways in our building, which get no natural light. We did. Up on my floor, we walk in gloom. We were told to turn off printers when we're not actually printing something. Fine. Makes sense. The university is trying to cut the (nominal)
stipends given to Ethnic Studies professors who administer programs like
Latina/o and Latin American Studies for their 8 weekly hours of administrative labor and student advising; there were hearings; the stipends
are currently in limbo.
Last week, we received an email from the administration prepping us to expect further cuts--to hiring, to travel, etc. These follow the job searches that were frozen last year. There's going to be a special session of the Nebraska legislature due to a dive in state tax revenues, said the email, so we should prepare to think creatively about ways to tighten our belts further.
Okay, fine. We know the unemployment situation; we've commiserated with our colleagues in California and elsewhere; we know things are tough all over. Hey, if they're cutting back even at Harvard, surely we can do without luxuries. Right?
But not everyone at the University of Nebraska system is feeling the pinch. Harold Maurer, chancellor of the medical center, "gets a 2009 Porsche Cayenne and membership to two Omaha golf clubs," while UNL chancellor gets a Lexus and a country-club membership. Athletic director Tom Osborne gets a 2009 Chevy Tahoe. Bo Pelini, the football coach, gets not only a 2008 Nissan Armada and a country-club membership but also a 2008 Nissan Quest for his wife. Over 50 administrators and athletic staff receive private country-club and athletic-club memberships, and over 80 get vehicles as perks, from 2009 Honda Pilots to BMW X5s to Saabs to Lexuses to Porsches. The Lincoln Journal-Star broke the story last week.
"It is higher education upside down," responded Georgetown University's Pablo Eisenberg. "The money ought to be going to academics, to those teaching."
Ha. Ha. Ha. As scholars and artists, we've been schooled for so long in the hard truth of our own devaluation that Eisenberg sounds sweetly naïve. Correct, perhaps, but naïve. We all know what's most highly valued at academic institutions: suits and coaches. This new revelation--they get Porsches, we give up our office phones--is just the latest slap in a long, long series.
But how about this: the money ought to be going toward reducing class size. I have 20 students in graduate classes. I have 30 in undergraduate classes--classes that are supposed to be discussion-based and writing-intensive. How the hell is that supposed to work? What does that say about the University of Nebraska's commitment to the quality of education?
Get this:
Oh, is that not how business gets done? Oh, are golf courses the places where important deals get made? Excuse me, but if the times they are a-changin' in light of the global financial fiasco (caused precisely by the greed and gambling of the golf-playing, Porsche-driving rich), then maybe the business practices of bureaucrats and coaches need to take the hit that everyone else is taking, because last time I checked, teaching and research don't get done by jacking up class-enrollment caps and cutting back on compensation for labor, either.
Next time someone asks me to pinch pennies, you'll hear me laughing all the way down my dark hallway.
Protesters at UCLA
Last week, we received an email from the administration prepping us to expect further cuts--to hiring, to travel, etc. These follow the job searches that were frozen last year. There's going to be a special session of the Nebraska legislature due to a dive in state tax revenues, said the email, so we should prepare to think creatively about ways to tighten our belts further.
Okay, fine. We know the unemployment situation; we've commiserated with our colleagues in California and elsewhere; we know things are tough all over. Hey, if they're cutting back even at Harvard, surely we can do without luxuries. Right?
But not everyone at the University of Nebraska system is feeling the pinch. Harold Maurer, chancellor of the medical center, "gets a 2009 Porsche Cayenne and membership to two Omaha golf clubs," while UNL chancellor gets a Lexus and a country-club membership. Athletic director Tom Osborne gets a 2009 Chevy Tahoe. Bo Pelini, the football coach, gets not only a 2008 Nissan Armada and a country-club membership but also a 2008 Nissan Quest for his wife. Over 50 administrators and athletic staff receive private country-club and athletic-club memberships, and over 80 get vehicles as perks, from 2009 Honda Pilots to BMW X5s to Saabs to Lexuses to Porsches. The Lincoln Journal-Star broke the story last week."It is higher education upside down," responded Georgetown University's Pablo Eisenberg. "The money ought to be going to academics, to those teaching."
Ha. Ha. Ha. As scholars and artists, we've been schooled for so long in the hard truth of our own devaluation that Eisenberg sounds sweetly naïve. Correct, perhaps, but naïve. We all know what's most highly valued at academic institutions: suits and coaches. This new revelation--they get Porsches, we give up our office phones--is just the latest slap in a long, long series.
But how about this: the money ought to be going toward reducing class size. I have 20 students in graduate classes. I have 30 in undergraduate classes--classes that are supposed to be discussion-based and writing-intensive. How the hell is that supposed to work? What does that say about the University of Nebraska's commitment to the quality of education?
Get this:
UNL Chancellor Perlman had lunch with a prospective donor and breakfast with another at The Country Club of Lincoln in recent weeks and often uses the club for UNL-related events, he said in an e-mail response to Journal Star questions.How about this for a creative budget-trimming idea? How about Perlman meets with prospective donors in his office? (Where, presumably, he still has a phone.) How about they have lunch at Panera?
Oh, is that not how business gets done? Oh, are golf courses the places where important deals get made? Excuse me, but if the times they are a-changin' in light of the global financial fiasco (caused precisely by the greed and gambling of the golf-playing, Porsche-driving rich), then maybe the business practices of bureaucrats and coaches need to take the hit that everyone else is taking, because last time I checked, teaching and research don't get done by jacking up class-enrollment caps and cutting back on compensation for labor, either.
Next time someone asks me to pinch pennies, you'll hear me laughing all the way down my dark hallway.
Protesters at UCLA
Jezebella said:
You know, the sense of entitlement often attributed to the so-called "welfare classes" does not begin to hold a candle to the sense of entitlement permeating the ranks of privilege. A new car every year - not just a new car - a new Porsche, or BMW, or Lexus! A new car for the very same person telling everyone else to tighten their belts, turn down the thermostat, do without copy paper or telephones. It's galling.
I note with interest that the Sheldon is advertising for a curator again. I somehow doubt the museum is on the Porsche side of the budget.
October 14, 2009 4:43 PMfayepoet said:
It's unbelievable-- the inequity to faculty who are in the day to day engagement with students and the blatant disregard for the sustainable values that support good educators. It's clearly not a Porshe-- Write on--- I hope someone is reading who can make a difference.
October 18, 2009 10:22 PM