Moving the Discussion to a New Level

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.