The majority did a number on professors a few weeks ago inUniversity Senate.
In taking job accountability and responsibility away fromprofessors, the unwise, tyrannical Senate majority did damage toBall State's academic reputation. Mediocrity, or worse, is approvedonce again.
Pam Riegle, coordinator of Academic Support Services for StudentAthletes, with the boost of Marilyn Buck, Senate chair, and anarray of athletic department bureaucrats emerged as regulators ofthe college classroom. Accreditors and folks at the Chronicle ofHigher Education should take note.
The claim of our professional athletic stewards is thatprofessors discriminate academically against Ball State jocks andjockettes. What is expected of ordinary students is not demanded ofjocks and jockettes. Class attendance and laboratories are for theordinary folks -- not the privileged student athletes.
Conflicts of interest abound here. Professors are recruited toadhere to skills, knowledge and expertise and not the whims ofathletic department bureaucrats. Yet students, deans, staff and avariety of paper-pushers try to tell professors how to do theirjobs. Is something very wrong with this picture?
According to the Daily News, Riegle argues that, insyllabi, some professors will not "deal" with student-athleteschedules, tell athletes to drop their classes and are penalizedfor representing Ball State in the games of youth. In most mattersof intellectual pursuit, accusers (as are Riegle and Buck) provideevidence of such charges. But not at Ball State.
Instead of evidence, wholesale charges are leveled by athleticnaysayers of class attendance. According to Riegle, approximately100 athletes a semester encounter professors doing what they arehired to do -- penalize students when they miss class. According toathletic department bureaucrats, the first function of jocks andjockettes is to represent Ball State in intercollegiate athleticgames -- not attend class and laboratories.
A report in the The Star Press states that, "Some faculty do nothide their resentment of athletes, and that at least one facultymember has stated in writing, 'If you're an athlete, get out of myclass.'" Where is the proof of these assertions? Ball Stateathletic department bureaucrats must place their proverbialevidence on the table. Name professors who discriminate -- and howso. Come on, coaches: Put up your dukes.
The conclusive result of this tyranny of the majority inUniversity Senate is that all graduates of Ball State lose. Ourordinary students are already paying too much for a college degreethat gets cheapened by the hangers on who do not teach.
Indiana high school college advisors: Take note that the BallState athletic department bureaucrats insist on setting lowerstandards for acheivement.
Professors are encouraged to pay no attention to thisregulation. Adhere to conscience, professionalism and the greatmajority of ordinary students who pay increasingly higher tuitions.Let the athletic regulators come after us, question our motivationsand debate the ultimate truths of this university setting.
Our misdirected Board of Trustees, our lame duck president andour deficit spenders are committed to expanding a football stadiumalready half-empty to the tune of $12 million. Reputations are madeby value commitments. Our jocks and jockettes benefit to the demiseof ordinary folks who pay high tuitions.
Who is running this academic prison called Ball State? Theguards or the inmates?
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
