Mike’s open mic

We take issue with some of the tactless comments made at Tuesday’s forum

During the University open mic forum Wednesday, President Michael Adams made a few comments that made us cringe.

“We are literally bursting at the seams,” Adams said in response to a question about whether or not the Women’s Studies Institute would be moved to a new building.

Really? We understand budget cuts and the current economic crisis are affecting everyone. But when there is a partially empty building on campus – such as the vacant visual arts building – why not share the space with a department in desperate need of new space?

“We are having more difficulty keeping our best faculty than hiring unskilled workers,” Adams said while discussing the need to increase faculty salaries. Are the people who serve food in Bolton and clean up campus after football games really that expendable? In a time of such economic strife, we think it is important to keep all University employees’ interests in mind, regardless of skill level.

“I don’t think guns and alcohol and 18-year-olds in the KA house is a good combination. I could insert some others in there as well,” Adams said in defense of why he believes concealed weapons should be banned on campus. Its seems Adams should be reminded that Kappa Alpha is no longer on campus, and therefore outside of University jurisdiction. But it is nice to know Adams does not discriminate when stereotyping University fraternities.

President Adams, it seems like you’ve got some explaining to do.

- Kelsey Blair for the editorial board

Morose morale

Administrators need to remember that teachers are here for their students

“Who’s advocating for us?,” asked Susan Thomas, assistant professor of music and women’s studies, at Wednesday’s Faculty Affairs Committee meeting.

She was referring to administrators pushing department heads to be sure faculty members are properly doing their jobs.

According a recent survey, faculty morale is low. And the Board of Regents and legislators in Atlanta don’t think the faculty are fulfilling their duties, which include teaching, researching, publishing, presenting and exhibiting.

But to answer Thomas’ question, The Red & Black is advocating for you, the faculty. We see the long hours you spend in the classroom and on research projects. You mentor us and serve on committees and work much more than a typical 40-hour workweek.

Unfortunately, though, we don’t pay your salaries or budget your hours.

We’re not the ones searching through records to flag professors whose numbers just don’t add up, and we’re not the ones adding an extra course or two to professors’ schedules as punishment for not doing enough research.

But administrators, Regents and legislators should do well to remember why faculty members are here: to teach. Professors’ first and foremost responsibilities should be to students. We’re in the classroom with them every day and the information they impart on us should be more valuable to the Regents than the number of papers they publish in any given year.

So to the professors, we say, thanks for going above and beyond. And to the administration, please keep students’ best interests in mind.

- Shannon Otto for the editorial board