In our last post a couple of weeks ago, we told you that this blog would be winding down.
In order to provide an ongoing forum for the Alfed State community, we have put up a discussion board that can continue to serve as a forum for those who wish to discuss issues at Alfred State College. The discussion board is being set up in a way that individuals can raise topics of interest without having to clear them with the board administrators. The goal is to let members of the Alfred State community set the direction and tone of the discussion. The administrators intend to take a hand-off approach by simply making the forum available and ensuring that it is anonymous.
You can find that discussion board at http://asctruth.free-forums.org.
As we noted in an earlier post, the blog was successful in raising issues and providing information of interest to the Alfred State community. While the need to have an anonymous forum was unfortunate, the repressive nature of the current ASC administration made it impossible to address substantive issues in any other way. While the administration and Chancellor Ryan have been quick to condemn the blog, it seems to us that they are shooting the messenger.
Those who have any understanding of history know that differenting opinions and grievences need to be dealt with openly, fairly and honestly. Attempts to suppress those opinions and grievences only result in them bubbling below the surface until they erupt in other ways.
The current administration seems to be completely incapable of dealing with dissenting opinions. Time and again there have been examples of threats made and punitive actions taken against individuals who have honest and often legitimate differences with the current members of the president's cabinet. Unfortunately, recent months do not seem to have brought about any change. For some reason, this group of people is completely unable to learn how to discuss and disagree in a civil manner.
It is our hope that a new administration, should it come sooner or later, will find a way to communicate openly and encourage others to do so not just through empty words, but through concrete action. The future of Alfred State College as a vibrant, growing institution of learning depends upon such openness.
As noted in an earlier brief, this blog began as an individual effort but quickly grew into a collaborative work. The vast majority of contributions made were anonymous, yet it was remarkable how quickly a community was built. The numerous veiled and direct threats that have been made against those who post do not seem to have discouraged the discourse on the blog. Clearly, the anonymous nature of the blog made it possible.
There are those who condemn the anonymous communications as somehow being cowardly and less reliable than if those individuals had signed their names. In our opinion, that condemnation is hypocritical. There are numerous examples of individuals who have put their names forward along with their comments and complaints and been treated poorly by both ASC and SUNY Central.
To those, including Chancellor Ryan, who condemn anonymous communications, we suggest you take a long, hard look at how you have treated those who do put themselves out there. To the ASC administration and Chancellor Ryan, take a look at what you have done to shut down, stifle, minimize, ignore and punish those who have tried to have an honest dialogue with you.
Anonymous communication is a natural outcome of a repressive environment. It is an entirely appropriate response to a situation where open communication is not tolerated. Cowardly is a word more appropriately directed at those who abuse their power and attempt to stifle communication through intimidation.
One negative outcome of the anonymous nature of this blog is that a number of individuals are being falsely named as having contributed. While we won't play the game of saying who has or hasn't been associated with this blog, we can say no one, including us, knows who the vast majority of the contributors are. The only reason we know the names of some contributors is that they contracted us and revealed their names deliberately. Those names will remain confidential. Those in the administration who claim to know the names of a number of individuals--a Gang of Five, or Six, or One Hundred-- associated with the blog are engaging in speculation and inuendo.
To those who have been falsely named, we apologize. It has not been our intention to cause you additional difficulties. All we can say is that we hope the scapegoating and attempts to diminish your character and contributions to ASC will stop soon.
There are those who will be quick to blame the blog and those who contributed to it for a whole host of ills that should more appropriately be laid at their own feet. Watch for the scapegoating; it's a tactic commonly used by those who refuse to take responsibilibies for their own actions or inaction.
For two years now ASC President Uma Gupta has been quick to blame everyone but herself for her failed leadership. If it's not some conspiracy theory about this gang or that gang of people wanting to take over her presidency, it is the failure of this individual or that individual to do their job or deliver what was required.
Alfred State will face some difficult challenges in the coming year. It is our hope that the faculty senate will be able to provide the strong leadership that will be required.
It is appropriate, in our opinion, for the faculty, staff and students to begin a serious examination of how to apply a comprehensive shared governance process at the college.
We have faith in the character of the vast majority of members of the Alfred State community. It is possible to survive the current regime and the turmoil it has created. There is no question that Gupta, through her own incompetence, will fail and will move on, either voluntarily or involuntarily. Anyone looking at her track record will see the wreckage she has left behind her and know that she is not long for the job. The only question is whether Alfred State can afford to wait for her to move on.
But wait or not, Alfred State will endure. There are simply too many good people for the institution to fail.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Thursday, July 28, 2005
"Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back."
Well, if the ship goes down at Alfred State, there's nobody at the college or within the SUNY system who can claim they didn't know what was going on in this valley. When the Admiral himself spends time at a public meeting commenting about this blog, there is no denying the message has been sent (and received) loud and clear.
If that were our only measure of success for this blog, then we have succeeded beyond our wildest expectations. But it is the number of visits (approaching 5000 in just over six weeks) and the hundreds of comments and the free and open discussion that has occurred that we count as our greatest success
When this blog began, it was an individual effort -- literally one person who simply wasn't going to put up with the abuse of power anymore. Look at the early posts and you will see very clearly what the agenda was -- get rid of Uma Gupta. It was and continues to be an agenda driven by a deep anger at an egregious wrong perpetrated by Gupta upon a number of innocent individuals -- none of whom are college employees -- caught in the "crossfire" of her paranoia and fear.
But this blog became much more than the writings of a single individual. Something amazing happened...from fewer than a half dozen e-mails "seeded" to individuals within the college community, the readership and the number of comments exploded. Many of you know better than we do how you found your way to this URL. We were stunned at the response.
As readership grew and the comments poured in, the blog became a collaborative work and forum for discussion, conducted online and anonymously. Look through the comments and you will be able to clearly identify when Bob Albrecht became the focus of attention. Suddenly there was a second agenda -- get rid of Baghdad Bob -- driven by those who found the man to be completely unworthy of the position he had been anointed to.
We found it particularly fascinating how a large number of anonymous individuals acting independently of each other could come together in such a manner and begin to create and change the original direction of the blog.
Information about goings-on at Alfred State began to pour in from a wide variety of sources -- a few with names attached, most anonymous -- and people turned to this blog to find out what was happening at ASC.
The success of this blog is a direct result of the atmosphere of fear and intimidation that fell over the college soon after Gupta arrived in Alfred...it provided a forum where people could speak freely. And it provided information that rightfully should have been available to the faculty, staff and students as a routine matter.
The information we have provided has largely been accurate and factual. Much of this information was already available to a number of groups and individuals, but not to the whole college community. This transparency has seriously unnerved those who would obscure and hide what they have done.t
There have been a some mistakes -- quickly pointed out by various readers -- and we thank them for those corrections.
There have been accusations of bias in what we've written, to which we response in the vernacular of today's pre-teens -- duh!!! Of course there is bias. We have, as we've stated numerous times, an agenda. Besides, those who have accused us of bias seem to have typically had their own bias...er, point of view.
In our view, there is nothing wrong with the expression of differing opinions. All views have been welcomed in this blog, unlike the situation we face with the current administration. While it may be uncomfortable for some, free and open discourse is ultimately healthy.
Chancellor Ryan is unhappy with this blog. He commented during his presentation that the blog was unfair and hurt people. We aren't surprised at his characterization -- those in authority are uncomfortable with those things that circumvent the established order. Yet when those in positions of authority are actively involved or condone, explicitly or through willful ignorance, the abuse of power, the use of intimidation, the supression of those with differing views, it is both the right and the duty of all of us to confront, using all legal means, the established order.
There are those who claim this blog is the work of disgruntled ex-administrators or the Gang of 5 or a few malcontents and miscreants. There are those who are desperate to convince themselves and others that this blog is the work of a mere handful of individuals and not an expression of the opinions of dozens upon dozens of people. And there are those who, seeking any excuse rather than facing their own incompetence, will point to this blog or to some individual or some conspiracy hatched in their own imaginations as the source of all their woes.
They are wrong, of course, but they will seize on anything -- whether truth, half-truth or untruth -- in a desperate bid to retain their power and position. Be skeptical of what you are told, beware of the rumors and innuendo and outright lies. Refuse to take at face value any information (including what is said by us and others on this blog); instead, subject it to thorough and critical examination.
With the start of a new academic year, it is time for the Alfred State community to reflect on where it wants to go in the coming year. The college faces enormous challenges, not the least of which is a president who habitually attempts to pit people against each other in an effort to divide and destroy all others as she desperately clings to power.
For faculty, staff and students, the biggest challenge in the coming year will be to find a united voice -- not necessarily unanimous, but certainly a strong majority -- that will help guide the college forward.
In our opinion, the coming year should be one in which the faculty senate develops a model of share governance that enables all members of the college community to participate in the crucial decisions that face the college. It should be a year in which the faculty senate assets its independence from the president and the cabinet and all those who would pursue personal agendas at the expense of college's future. It should be a year in which the institutional structures are put into place which will prevent the abuses of power, both petty and serious, that have been tolerated in the past.
A fair, honest and truly secret vote that explicitly asks whether the faculty have "Confidence" or "No Confidence" in the leadership of Gupta and Albrecht would quickly answer the question of what the majority feel. We believe the faculty senate should move to call such a vote soon, so the issue is settled one way or the other and doesn't drag out over the course of coming year. We believe that any dithering in asking the question will only prolong the agony and further divide the college.
We have faith in those who work and study at ASC. The overwhelming majority are good, considerate, tolerant, dedicated individuals who have the best interests of college at heart. It is our hope that individually and collectively we can create the kind of college we deserve -- one free of fear and intimidation, where diverse opinions are celebrated and not surpressed and incompetent and abusive leadership is not tolerated.
This blog was created as an expression of a single individual's outrage and anger. It has become much more than that; it has become the vehicle of expression for a whole community of people. It has provided a free and open forum for all to speak their minds, to engage in vital conversations that were stifled by those in positions of authority.
We believe that any further postings on our part would simply repeat what we have already said. We believe that the time has come for the faculty as a whole to debate the future of this college and hope that the faculty senate will continue to provide strong leadership in facilitating that debate. Therefore, we intend to cease publishing our commentaries indefintely.
Although our commentaries will cease, this blog will remain operational. We are looking into more convenient ways of hosting discussions and will inform you when we find an approach we are comfortable with. Until then, your comments on any topic are welcome and you may continue to post them anonymously as you have done in the past.
To all those who have visited, thank you. To all those who wrote comments, whether we agreed with you or not, and provided information and insights, we also extend our thanks.
- J.K. Rowling
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, if the ship goes down at Alfred State, there's nobody at the college or within the SUNY system who can claim they didn't know what was going on in this valley. When the Admiral himself spends time at a public meeting commenting about this blog, there is no denying the message has been sent (and received) loud and clear.
If that were our only measure of success for this blog, then we have succeeded beyond our wildest expectations. But it is the number of visits (approaching 5000 in just over six weeks) and the hundreds of comments and the free and open discussion that has occurred that we count as our greatest success
When this blog began, it was an individual effort -- literally one person who simply wasn't going to put up with the abuse of power anymore. Look at the early posts and you will see very clearly what the agenda was -- get rid of Uma Gupta. It was and continues to be an agenda driven by a deep anger at an egregious wrong perpetrated by Gupta upon a number of innocent individuals -- none of whom are college employees -- caught in the "crossfire" of her paranoia and fear.
But this blog became much more than the writings of a single individual. Something amazing happened...from fewer than a half dozen e-mails "seeded" to individuals within the college community, the readership and the number of comments exploded. Many of you know better than we do how you found your way to this URL. We were stunned at the response.
As readership grew and the comments poured in, the blog became a collaborative work and forum for discussion, conducted online and anonymously. Look through the comments and you will be able to clearly identify when Bob Albrecht became the focus of attention. Suddenly there was a second agenda -- get rid of Baghdad Bob -- driven by those who found the man to be completely unworthy of the position he had been anointed to.
We found it particularly fascinating how a large number of anonymous individuals acting independently of each other could come together in such a manner and begin to create and change the original direction of the blog.
Information about goings-on at Alfred State began to pour in from a wide variety of sources -- a few with names attached, most anonymous -- and people turned to this blog to find out what was happening at ASC.
The success of this blog is a direct result of the atmosphere of fear and intimidation that fell over the college soon after Gupta arrived in Alfred...it provided a forum where people could speak freely. And it provided information that rightfully should have been available to the faculty, staff and students as a routine matter.
The information we have provided has largely been accurate and factual. Much of this information was already available to a number of groups and individuals, but not to the whole college community. This transparency has seriously unnerved those who would obscure and hide what they have done.t
There have been a some mistakes -- quickly pointed out by various readers -- and we thank them for those corrections.
There have been accusations of bias in what we've written, to which we response in the vernacular of today's pre-teens -- duh!!! Of course there is bias. We have, as we've stated numerous times, an agenda. Besides, those who have accused us of bias seem to have typically had their own bias...er, point of view.
In our view, there is nothing wrong with the expression of differing opinions. All views have been welcomed in this blog, unlike the situation we face with the current administration. While it may be uncomfortable for some, free and open discourse is ultimately healthy.
Chancellor Ryan is unhappy with this blog. He commented during his presentation that the blog was unfair and hurt people. We aren't surprised at his characterization -- those in authority are uncomfortable with those things that circumvent the established order. Yet when those in positions of authority are actively involved or condone, explicitly or through willful ignorance, the abuse of power, the use of intimidation, the supression of those with differing views, it is both the right and the duty of all of us to confront, using all legal means, the established order.
There are those who claim this blog is the work of disgruntled ex-administrators or the Gang of 5 or a few malcontents and miscreants. There are those who are desperate to convince themselves and others that this blog is the work of a mere handful of individuals and not an expression of the opinions of dozens upon dozens of people. And there are those who, seeking any excuse rather than facing their own incompetence, will point to this blog or to some individual or some conspiracy hatched in their own imaginations as the source of all their woes.
They are wrong, of course, but they will seize on anything -- whether truth, half-truth or untruth -- in a desperate bid to retain their power and position. Be skeptical of what you are told, beware of the rumors and innuendo and outright lies. Refuse to take at face value any information (including what is said by us and others on this blog); instead, subject it to thorough and critical examination.
With the start of a new academic year, it is time for the Alfred State community to reflect on where it wants to go in the coming year. The college faces enormous challenges, not the least of which is a president who habitually attempts to pit people against each other in an effort to divide and destroy all others as she desperately clings to power.
For faculty, staff and students, the biggest challenge in the coming year will be to find a united voice -- not necessarily unanimous, but certainly a strong majority -- that will help guide the college forward.
In our opinion, the coming year should be one in which the faculty senate develops a model of share governance that enables all members of the college community to participate in the crucial decisions that face the college. It should be a year in which the faculty senate assets its independence from the president and the cabinet and all those who would pursue personal agendas at the expense of college's future. It should be a year in which the institutional structures are put into place which will prevent the abuses of power, both petty and serious, that have been tolerated in the past.
A fair, honest and truly secret vote that explicitly asks whether the faculty have "Confidence" or "No Confidence" in the leadership of Gupta and Albrecht would quickly answer the question of what the majority feel. We believe the faculty senate should move to call such a vote soon, so the issue is settled one way or the other and doesn't drag out over the course of coming year. We believe that any dithering in asking the question will only prolong the agony and further divide the college.
We have faith in those who work and study at ASC. The overwhelming majority are good, considerate, tolerant, dedicated individuals who have the best interests of college at heart. It is our hope that individually and collectively we can create the kind of college we deserve -- one free of fear and intimidation, where diverse opinions are celebrated and not surpressed and incompetent and abusive leadership is not tolerated.
This blog was created as an expression of a single individual's outrage and anger. It has become much more than that; it has become the vehicle of expression for a whole community of people. It has provided a free and open forum for all to speak their minds, to engage in vital conversations that were stifled by those in positions of authority.
We believe that any further postings on our part would simply repeat what we have already said. We believe that the time has come for the faculty as a whole to debate the future of this college and hope that the faculty senate will continue to provide strong leadership in facilitating that debate. Therefore, we intend to cease publishing our commentaries indefintely.
Although our commentaries will cease, this blog will remain operational. We are looking into more convenient ways of hosting discussions and will inform you when we find an approach we are comfortable with. Until then, your comments on any topic are welcome and you may continue to post them anonymously as you have done in the past.
To all those who have visited, thank you. To all those who wrote comments, whether we agreed with you or not, and provided information and insights, we also extend our thanks.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Gupta Busy Building "Potemkin Village" for Chancellor's Visit
It didn't take long for ASC president Uma Gupta to start hammering together the Potemkin Village* she's erecting for SUNY Chancellor John Ryans pending visit.
In the morning Gupta's secretary sent out an announcement that Ryan will be on campus on July 25 and "(a)ll are cordially invited to attend his presentation".
By mid-afternoon, staff were being ordered to attend. One reader wrote:
If you really feel that you are being forced to attend the Chancellor's presentation and you're not happy about it, you can let him know by sending a note to this e-mail link.
The form asks for a name and e-mail address, but if you aren't confortable revealing your name, the words "Anonymous" and "anonymous@alfredstate.edu" work just fine. Let Chancellor Ryan know why you are uncomfortable about revealing your name.
* Potemkin Village: An impressive facade or display that hides an undesirable fact or state; a false front. (From Dictionary.com); Something that appears elaborate and impressive but in actual fact lacks substance. (From The American Heritage Dictionary).
In the morning Gupta's secretary sent out an announcement that Ryan will be on campus on July 25 and "(a)ll are cordially invited to attend his presentation".
By mid-afternoon, staff were being ordered to attend. One reader wrote:
PATHETIC!!! At least three directors and VP's have sent out notices demanding that their staff attend the Chancellor's meeting. This is going to be a win-win for Gupta: The place will be packed with compliant staff, so the Chancellor will be impressed with our interest and strong participation, and the president gets to have the Chancellor on campus during a time when there is no one around to shout that the emperor has no clothes. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PLACE???Shortly after that post, another reader wrote:
I got a notice from my boss too telling me to go to the Chancellor's presentation. I guess they're worried about turnout...As our reader notes, Gupta wants to fill the seats at Orvis with people who aren't able to speak freely. Gupta's tactics are disgusting. She's afraid she can't hammer the faculty and its leadership into submission, so she decides to take the staff hostage instead.
If you really feel that you are being forced to attend the Chancellor's presentation and you're not happy about it, you can let him know by sending a note to this e-mail link.
The form asks for a name and e-mail address, but if you aren't confortable revealing your name, the words "Anonymous" and "anonymous@alfredstate.edu" work just fine. Let Chancellor Ryan know why you are uncomfortable about revealing your name.
* Potemkin Village: An impressive facade or display that hides an undesirable fact or state; a false front. (From Dictionary.com); Something that appears elaborate and impressive but in actual fact lacks substance. (From The American Heritage Dictionary).
Monday, July 18, 2005
SUNY Chancellor's Visit Must Be Postponed to September
ASC president Uma Gupta is in trouble and she knows it.
To bolster her failing administration she's calling in the muscle in an effort to bully the college's faculty into submission.
Whether SUNY Chancellor John Ryan has figured out he's the heavy is still an open question. The word we've received is that he's making a series of meet-and-greet visits to a number of SUNY campuses in order to get to know what's going on and let people get to know him, so a July visit may just be an unfortunate coincidence. We certainly hope it is a coincidence.
We're all for a meet-and-greet with Chancellor Ryan -- sometime in September after all the faculty and students are back in town.
We are calling on the ASC faculty senate to immediately send a formal request to Chancellor Ryan requesting a meeting between him and the faculty sometime in September. We also call on the faculty senate to notify Chancellor Ryan that they believe that conducting a meeting when the vast majority of faculty are not available would be inappropriate and therefore, the faculty senate will not be able to meet with him in July.
Incidentally, we also urge the student council to also request a meeting with Chancellor Ryan so the student's of Alfred State have an opportunity to meet and discuss with him their issues of concern.
A visit by the Chancellor to Alfred State is essential if he is to understand the seriousness of the situation here. Gupta has had plenty of opportunity to talk with the Chancellor. It is time that the faculty, staff and students get the same opportunity without the manipulations of Gupta.
It is also vitally important that Ryan visit personally and not delegate the job to someone else.
Vice-Chancellor Betty Capaldi would certainly NOT be a good choice to look into this mess. Capaldi destroyed her own credibility back in April with an inept "investigation" into the demotions of Jim Grillo and Karla Back. The "investigation", which Grillo and Back had described to the faculty senate as a brief phone call to them, was in our opinion, more of a whitewash.
We can understand the reason for the whitewash.
Then-Chancellor Bob King was busy angling for his extravagant payoff for stepping down as head of the SUNY system. A fuss about an incompetent president at Alfred State, one he hired despite two votes of no confidence at the university she was coming from, would have been a major embarrassment and would have made it more difficult for him to get his golden parachute. And questions about why background checks were either not done or were ignored would have made it much more difficult for King to get his payoff.
Capaldi, too, had good reason for whitewashing the situation. She was a candidate for a chancellorship at the University of Nevada system and a noisy fuss about Gupta's incompetence would have been an embarrassment that could weigh against her selection for the position she was seeking.
Given the complexity and the gravity of the situation at Alfred State, sending someone else from further down the chain of command would, in our opinion, be inappropriate.
The scheduling of the July 25th meeting has Gupta's fingerprints are all over it. In a classical Gupta move, she is again attempting to intimidate and manipulate the faculty senate and the academic leadership of this college. As well, by ensuring that the vast majority of faculty will not be on campus at the time of the meeting, Gupta is attempting to divide the faculty senate from the faculty as a whole -- another classic Gupta tactic of divide and destroy.
We are not the only ones concerned about Ryan's scheduled visit. One reader commented:
My problem with the Chancellor's visit is simple: despite the likely low turnout, and the fact that it is scheduled during a time when faculty have no obligation, I guarantee that it will be offered up later as something that the administration did to "inform" the faculty via the faculty senate. I am also bothered by the claim that the Chancellor will be addressing the "Faculty Senate" as a body, when he cannot be unless a senate meeting is called. I can't call a faculty senate meeting and I'm faculty, so why does the president get to call a faculty senate meeting during a period of no obligation?Gupta has already begun her offensive against the faculty. One reader (who requested their name remain confidential) wrote:
Have you received any information on the meeting Gupta is having with departments around campus? I'm not on campus in the summer and don't have all the details, but it seems to be her campaign to "win" employees over. Seems suspicious that this is happening in July, before faculty (specifically Jim Grillo and Karla Back) are due back on campus.
It's clear that Gupta is now starting to take the discussions of getting rid of Bob Albrecht seriously. And it's just as clear that she will do what she can to keep him in the position of VPAA as long as possible and by whatever means possible. Turning Chancellor Ryan's meet-and-greet tour of SUNY campuses into yet another cynical attempt to intimidate Alfred State's faculty needs to be stopped and stopped now.
The faculty acting individually and through its senate needs to make it clear to Gupta and Albrecht that we will not be intimidated.
We strongly urge all faculty members to contact Jeff Johnson immediately to:
- seek clarification as to the role of the faculty senate in inviting Chancellor Ryan to an July 25th meeting
- requesting that the July 25th meeting be postponed until faculty have returned to campus and had time to get beginning-of-semester matters taken care of
- requesting that the faculty senate formally invite Chancellor Ryan to a meeting of faculty at a convenient date in September
Chancellor Ryan can be contacted via a SUNY web page at this e-mail link. You can also try his direct e-mail address at john.ryan@suny.edu. We tried this address about a month ago and it was working.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
You've got to hand it to Gupta -- she's got nerve.
Just three hours after this blog posted its call to postpone the meeting with SUNY Chancellor Ryan, Gupta's secretary posted an ANNOUNCE that the July 25 meeting with the faculty senate was now open to all.
It really is time for the faculty senate to admonish her for the disrespect she has shown the faculty, staff and student of Alfred State on the issue of the meeting with Chancellor Ryan. The faculty senate must make it clear to Gupta that it does not march to her tune.
Again, we call on individual faculty and staff to drop Chancellor Ryan an e-mail and ask that he come to an open meeting in September when everyone will be here. We also suggest that students (and their parents) contact the Chancellor as well and make a request that he visit when the students will have an opportunity to meet him.
Parent's Comment Reveals Depth of ASC Problems
If anyone doubts the seriousness of Alfred State's problems, a comment we received from one parent should make it clear. That parent wrote:
Lest anyone operate under the illusion that this is an isolated comment, they should take a look at the latest enrollment figures -- down almost 9% over last year, according to our sources. And we're not talkng just new enrolments either -- the drop in the number of returning students is running about the same, we are told.
We've told you over the past couple of months that the enrolment numbers were falling. Watch for the administration to blame the dropping numbers on "tougher standards" -- but don't buy it. A drop in returning students would not be the result of these "tougher standards".
As well, our contacts tell us that the order went out weeks ago to drop the standards for admission when new enrollments were down by 5%.
So here we are, about a month from the start of a new academic year and enrollment numbers continue to fall. If the situation doesn't improve over the next four weeks, we can expect ASC enrollments to be down by between 300 and 350 students.
That's not going to help ASC's budget problems, our sources tell us. They said we can expect to see the college's revenues fall by about $3 million if those students aren't in classes here.
Local businesses need to start paying attention too -- 300 to 350 fewer students is going to hurt their bottom line as well.
For those of you who still doubt the seriousness of the situation, talk to the folks at SUNY Institute of Technology (Utica/Rome). Ask them about the dramatic, multi-year drop in enrollments resulting from the leadership problems they experienced.
If you think a drop of 300 students is a problem, imagine being down another 300 or more next year as a result of worsening conditions here. Imagine what happens to this college and this community if our enrollments drop by 20% or 30% over the next one to two years.
Gupta has proven completely incapable of effectively managing the healthy college she inherited two years ago. Rather, through her incompetence, she has driven this institution to its knees. Imagine what she will do over the next one to two years as the problems become increasingly difficult as a result of her mismanagement and the incompentence of Albrecht and other members of a presidential cabinet that is completely inexperienced and inept in handling the day-to-day challenges of running this institution.
Imagine, two years from now, Bob Albrecht driving out of town into retirement with a larger pension than he'd expected and a ruined college in the rearview mirror. Does anyone who truly knows Albrecht doubt that he would find a measure of satisfaction in leaving his enemies to struggle in the wreakage that he has created?
Please we need everyone's cooperation to get these people out of power! We can not afford to wait, call the media, get the attention of Albany, and the village of Alfred as whole. Not just employees are in jeopardy, but our students as well. As a parent ready to send a son to college next year, I wouldn't even consider Alfred as a candidate for my son. When professors and employees are under this type of undue stress it almost certainly is going to spread to the student body in some way. It is like a fungus, spreading, damaging, and infecting all in it's path.When parents in the area start worrying -- rightly so, in our opinion -- about how problems with the leadership of ASC are going to affect the education their children, it means we are all in deep, deep trouble.
Lest anyone operate under the illusion that this is an isolated comment, they should take a look at the latest enrollment figures -- down almost 9% over last year, according to our sources. And we're not talkng just new enrolments either -- the drop in the number of returning students is running about the same, we are told.
We've told you over the past couple of months that the enrolment numbers were falling. Watch for the administration to blame the dropping numbers on "tougher standards" -- but don't buy it. A drop in returning students would not be the result of these "tougher standards".
As well, our contacts tell us that the order went out weeks ago to drop the standards for admission when new enrollments were down by 5%.
So here we are, about a month from the start of a new academic year and enrollment numbers continue to fall. If the situation doesn't improve over the next four weeks, we can expect ASC enrollments to be down by between 300 and 350 students.
That's not going to help ASC's budget problems, our sources tell us. They said we can expect to see the college's revenues fall by about $3 million if those students aren't in classes here.
Local businesses need to start paying attention too -- 300 to 350 fewer students is going to hurt their bottom line as well.
For those of you who still doubt the seriousness of the situation, talk to the folks at SUNY Institute of Technology (Utica/Rome). Ask them about the dramatic, multi-year drop in enrollments resulting from the leadership problems they experienced.
If you think a drop of 300 students is a problem, imagine being down another 300 or more next year as a result of worsening conditions here. Imagine what happens to this college and this community if our enrollments drop by 20% or 30% over the next one to two years.
Gupta has proven completely incapable of effectively managing the healthy college she inherited two years ago. Rather, through her incompetence, she has driven this institution to its knees. Imagine what she will do over the next one to two years as the problems become increasingly difficult as a result of her mismanagement and the incompentence of Albrecht and other members of a presidential cabinet that is completely inexperienced and inept in handling the day-to-day challenges of running this institution.
Imagine, two years from now, Bob Albrecht driving out of town into retirement with a larger pension than he'd expected and a ruined college in the rearview mirror. Does anyone who truly knows Albrecht doubt that he would find a measure of satisfaction in leaving his enemies to struggle in the wreakage that he has created?
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Averting Our Eyes Won't Make the Evil Disappear
A few comments over recent weeks have urged caution or been critical of the pace of change advocated by this blog and many of its readers.
Most of those comments have been anonymous, one was not. We thank Diane Martin for stating her opinions on the record and with her name attached to them. We respect her for sharing her opinions with us, although we disagree almost completely with them
Our experience is that the airing of problems with any institution -- be it a college, corporation or government -- is generally far better than stifling communication in the name of protecting the reputation of that institution.
Too many evils perpetrated by those in positions of authority are too easily buried if the majority willingly averts their eyes because they believe it is unseemly to reveal what is going on. Certainly the information on this blog is unpleasant. We would rather have Alfred State be a college in which unpleasantness is unknown, but the reality is that people like Uma Gupta and Bob Albrecht feed off the generosity, consideration and good will the vast majority of people have.
They consider generoristy, consideration and good will as weakness and those who display these characteristics as ripe for exploitation. Consider the case of Jeff Johnson -- a good, kind, well-meaning, considerate man committed to the well being of this college and its faculty -- who Gupta has repeatedly screamed at, belittled and called weak.
Until confronted directly and in terms they understand, people like Gupta and Albrecht take advantage of generosity, consideration and good will, grabbing everything they can get and treating those around them with disrespect and contempt.
The anonymity of the blog is a choice that we as the initiators of the blog felt necessary because of the vicious nature by which dissent under Gupta and Albrecht has been handled. All those who comment on this blog have a choice – they can do so anonymously or they can reveal their names. Most have decided to remain anonymous, a few have decided to reveal themselves. We applaud all of them for taking the time to read, think and respond to the issues raised.
That so many people feel it necessary to remain anonymous speaks to the truly terrible leadership of Gupta and Albrecht. Had diverse opinions been handled with respect and dignity, this blog would have been unnecessary. But the unfortunate fact is that the leadership of Alfred State College has created a poisonous environment that discourages -- in fact, punishes -- those with different opinions.
Gupta and her treatment of senior leaders in this college in over the past couple of years has been a lesson in repression. If there were any with doubts before, there were very few who missed the lesson when Gupta demoted Grillo and Back for daring to ask questions and seek the guidance of SUNY in averting a host of problems that faced ASC because of Gupta's abysmal leadership. Albrecht did his best to condemn and belittle Grillo and Back as soon as he was installed on his throne, and he did nothing to foster an environment of openness.
The picture at Alfred State is not pretty whether painted in broad stokes or fine detail. We have an institution in trouble -- an institution that was basically sound when Gupta arrived and which, as a result of two years of her incompetent leadership, is in serious trouble.
While some may see this blog as painting a bleak picture in broad strokes, we have consistently attempted to add the fine details of how poorly Gupta has managed this institution. That, we believe, is what is so upsetting to the senior administration and the few in the faculty and staff who support the status quo. Were it just the broad strokes, the information on this blog would be easy to dismiss. But as piece after piece after piece of information about the incompetence, mismanagement, and dishonesty of Gupta and her minions is revealed for all to see, the broad picture has become increasingly clear and detailed.
In just over eight weeks since our first post was published, Gupta and gang have gone from seeing this blog as a something to be ignored to a major concern. It is the clarity and the detail of the information published here – information that Gupta and Baghdad Bob and Tyrell and Putnam wanted to keep quiet – that has caused such concern in the president's cabinet.
It is not the airing details of incompetence and misconduct by Alfred State's leadership that damages the reputation of this institution; it is the incompetence and misconduct of the college's leadership and the willingness of so many to tolerate it for so long that does the damage.
The measure of an institution is not whether or not it makes mistakes; it is whether or not that institution is willing to acknowledge those mistakes, correct them, learn from them and move forward.
Diane Martin suggests we let the faculty senate handle this situation “in its own way, on its own terms”. We are merely suggesting measures that would help resolve the current crisis in a timely manner, rather than letting it drag on indefinitely.
We believe it important that the faculty through its senate take the first steps in bring forward the resolutions that are necessary to move Albrecht out of the VPAA's office. We also believe that Gupta should be required to comply with ALL points of earlier faculty senate resolutions, including beginning a national search for all the vice presidential positions she appointed following Grillo and Back's demotions and, should she refuse to do so, a vote of no confidence immediately be put forward for all faculty to vote on.
We believe the faculty through its senate should set a firm timetable for action so that Gupta and Albrecht do not drag out the process of a national search and effectively nullify the faculty's resolutions.
Too often we have seen the words “caution”, “deliberation”, “dignity”, “responsibility”, “calmness” and similar terms used as synonyms for “maintain the status quo”, “don't rock the boat”, and “ignore it and it will go away”.
There is no question that the vast majority of the readers of this blog believe Albrecht needs to go, and that a good many think Gupta should be tossed as well. We believe that these readers and their comments are representative of a majority of the faculty and staff at Alfred State .
But we can not and will not attempt to portray this blog as speaking on behalf of the Alfred State faculty and staff.
We believe it is vitally important that the faculty acting through its senate debate the issues, draft the resolutions and hold the voting to resolve the leadership crisis at this college.
We all know we have a problem at Alfred State . The only question is whether we will continue to tolerate it in hopes that things will somehow get better, or whether we take decisive action to begin the healing process now.
In our view, not acting because we fear that somehow the reputation of Alfred State will be damaged is negligent. Not acting because we believe doing so is undignified or unseemly or inconvenient is negligent. And not acting because we want others to take care of the situation for us is also negligent.
Most of those comments have been anonymous, one was not. We thank Diane Martin for stating her opinions on the record and with her name attached to them. We respect her for sharing her opinions with us, although we disagree almost completely with them
Our experience is that the airing of problems with any institution -- be it a college, corporation or government -- is generally far better than stifling communication in the name of protecting the reputation of that institution.
Too many evils perpetrated by those in positions of authority are too easily buried if the majority willingly averts their eyes because they believe it is unseemly to reveal what is going on. Certainly the information on this blog is unpleasant. We would rather have Alfred State be a college in which unpleasantness is unknown, but the reality is that people like Uma Gupta and Bob Albrecht feed off the generosity, consideration and good will the vast majority of people have.
They consider generoristy, consideration and good will as weakness and those who display these characteristics as ripe for exploitation. Consider the case of Jeff Johnson -- a good, kind, well-meaning, considerate man committed to the well being of this college and its faculty -- who Gupta has repeatedly screamed at, belittled and called weak.
Until confronted directly and in terms they understand, people like Gupta and Albrecht take advantage of generosity, consideration and good will, grabbing everything they can get and treating those around them with disrespect and contempt.
The anonymity of the blog is a choice that we as the initiators of the blog felt necessary because of the vicious nature by which dissent under Gupta and Albrecht has been handled. All those who comment on this blog have a choice – they can do so anonymously or they can reveal their names. Most have decided to remain anonymous, a few have decided to reveal themselves. We applaud all of them for taking the time to read, think and respond to the issues raised.
That so many people feel it necessary to remain anonymous speaks to the truly terrible leadership of Gupta and Albrecht. Had diverse opinions been handled with respect and dignity, this blog would have been unnecessary. But the unfortunate fact is that the leadership of Alfred State College has created a poisonous environment that discourages -- in fact, punishes -- those with different opinions.
Gupta and her treatment of senior leaders in this college in over the past couple of years has been a lesson in repression. If there were any with doubts before, there were very few who missed the lesson when Gupta demoted Grillo and Back for daring to ask questions and seek the guidance of SUNY in averting a host of problems that faced ASC because of Gupta's abysmal leadership. Albrecht did his best to condemn and belittle Grillo and Back as soon as he was installed on his throne, and he did nothing to foster an environment of openness.
The picture at Alfred State is not pretty whether painted in broad stokes or fine detail. We have an institution in trouble -- an institution that was basically sound when Gupta arrived and which, as a result of two years of her incompetent leadership, is in serious trouble.
While some may see this blog as painting a bleak picture in broad strokes, we have consistently attempted to add the fine details of how poorly Gupta has managed this institution. That, we believe, is what is so upsetting to the senior administration and the few in the faculty and staff who support the status quo. Were it just the broad strokes, the information on this blog would be easy to dismiss. But as piece after piece after piece of information about the incompetence, mismanagement, and dishonesty of Gupta and her minions is revealed for all to see, the broad picture has become increasingly clear and detailed.
In just over eight weeks since our first post was published, Gupta and gang have gone from seeing this blog as a something to be ignored to a major concern. It is the clarity and the detail of the information published here – information that Gupta and Baghdad Bob and Tyrell and Putnam wanted to keep quiet – that has caused such concern in the president's cabinet.
It is not the airing details of incompetence and misconduct by Alfred State's leadership that damages the reputation of this institution; it is the incompetence and misconduct of the college's leadership and the willingness of so many to tolerate it for so long that does the damage.
The measure of an institution is not whether or not it makes mistakes; it is whether or not that institution is willing to acknowledge those mistakes, correct them, learn from them and move forward.
Diane Martin suggests we let the faculty senate handle this situation “in its own way, on its own terms”. We are merely suggesting measures that would help resolve the current crisis in a timely manner, rather than letting it drag on indefinitely.
We believe it important that the faculty through its senate take the first steps in bring forward the resolutions that are necessary to move Albrecht out of the VPAA's office. We also believe that Gupta should be required to comply with ALL points of earlier faculty senate resolutions, including beginning a national search for all the vice presidential positions she appointed following Grillo and Back's demotions and, should she refuse to do so, a vote of no confidence immediately be put forward for all faculty to vote on.
We believe the faculty through its senate should set a firm timetable for action so that Gupta and Albrecht do not drag out the process of a national search and effectively nullify the faculty's resolutions.
Too often we have seen the words “caution”, “deliberation”, “dignity”, “responsibility”, “calmness” and similar terms used as synonyms for “maintain the status quo”, “don't rock the boat”, and “ignore it and it will go away”.
There is no question that the vast majority of the readers of this blog believe Albrecht needs to go, and that a good many think Gupta should be tossed as well. We believe that these readers and their comments are representative of a majority of the faculty and staff at Alfred State .
But we can not and will not attempt to portray this blog as speaking on behalf of the Alfred State faculty and staff.
We believe it is vitally important that the faculty acting through its senate debate the issues, draft the resolutions and hold the voting to resolve the leadership crisis at this college.
We all know we have a problem at Alfred State . The only question is whether we will continue to tolerate it in hopes that things will somehow get better, or whether we take decisive action to begin the healing process now.
In our view, not acting because we fear that somehow the reputation of Alfred State will be damaged is negligent. Not acting because we believe doing so is undignified or unseemly or inconvenient is negligent. And not acting because we want others to take care of the situation for us is also negligent.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Information on Background Search Requested from Gupta Recruiting Firm
We have forwarded this e-mail to Michael Distefano, vice president of global marketing for Korn/Ferry International:
Mr. Distefano can be contacted at Korn/Ferry International's head office via e-mail at michael.distefano@kornferry.com. For those of you who would like to call him, his phone number is (310)843-4199 or his fax is (310)226-2600.
We have forwarded a copy of the above letter to New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer with the following request:
We are writing in order to obtain Korn-Ferry's comments regarding the background investigation it did on Dr. Uma Gupta.
According to information we have received, Korn-Ferry is the recruiting firm that was involved bring Dr. Gupta forward as a candidate in the presidential search for Alfred State College (a SUNY campus in Alfred, New York) in 2003.
It is our understanding that Korn-Ferry was to have done a series of background checks into Dr. Gupta in order to determine her suitability for the position of president at the college. According to our information, members of the college's search committee attempted to conduct a complete background check of Dr. Gupta -- and particularly, a search of her references and others -- but were told not to do so. The members of that committee were assured that the recruiting firm (Korn-Ferry) had completed an comprehensive background check and had reported all its findings to the college's search committe.
Based on information we have received from members of that search committee, they were never informed that Dr. Gupta had received two votes of no confidence from the faculty of the College of Technology, University of Houston during the period that she was dean of that college.
We are attempting to determine whether Dr. Gupta informed Korn-Ferry of these votes of no confidence or whether she withheld that information from the firm.
Further, we are attempting to determine whether Korn-Ferry had information about the votes of no confidence at the time it informed the Alfred College search committee that it had done a background check and not to conduct its own reference checks and follow up interviews.
If Korn-Ferry did not have information about the votes of no confidence, we would like to have your firm describe the process it went through on the background checks and why information on the votes of no confidence (which were public information) was not uncovered and checked out.
Given the two votes of no confidence at the University of Houston and Dr. Gupta's subsequent and substantial leadership problems at Alfred State College, there are a number of ethical questions that we have regarding Korn-Ferry's role in bringing forward Dr. Gupta as a presidential candidate.
We also have questions about whether Dr. Gupta and/or Korn-Ferry fraudulently withheld information about her educational and employment background and experience. In addition to the substantial financial costs associated with placement of a candidate (we have reason to believe that Korn-Ferry collected a substantial fee for Dr. Gupta's placement), the problems associated with her leadership at Alfred State have resulted in substantial damage to numerous individuals as well as the faculty, staff and students of the college. In addition, the taxpayers of New York state have also suffered substantial financial damages.
We have forwarded a copy of this letter to Eliot Spitzer, Attorney General for the State of New York, and requested that he make inquiries into this matter.
In the meantime, we hope that Korn-Ferry will be forthcoming as to its involvement putting Dr. Gupta forward as a candidate for president of Alfred State College.
Mr. Distefano can be contacted at Korn/Ferry International's head office via e-mail at michael.distefano@kornferry.com. For those of you who would like to call him, his phone number is (310)843-4199 or his fax is (310)226-2600.
We have forwarded a copy of the above letter to New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer with the following request:
We are writing to request that you make inquiries into whether or not fraud or possible fraud was involved in the withholding for information to a search committee at Alfred State College. We've copied the text of a letter to a search firm in which we outline the issues involved. That letter is below.Attorney General Eliot Spitzer can be contacted via his webpage at http://www.oag.state.ny.us/online_forms/email_ag.jsp
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