Susan Ladd's Open Letter

Reporter and UNCG faculty member Susan Ladd has written an excellent letter to the incoming Chancellor. I hope that he reads it. I hope that he does more than that, that he takes it to heart.

However, there is an issue that continues to slide out of the spotlight. Yes, Gilliam needs to be not Brady, something he has already given hints of being able to accomplish. A note from one of my sources indicates the direction of the wound:

"HR continues to be the arm for legal to protect the university from her employees. Where is the interest in finding a replacement for Edna Chun? Where are the forums to gather perspectives on how HR can be restructured in order to perform its essential roles? What are the essential roles?"

Benita Peace watched the meltdown and I don't just mean the UNCG3. She's been seeing the slide since well before that. What was her part? If she remains in de facto charge of human resources as the voice of past wisdom, what chance is there for future improvements? She has wrongfully rubbed so many lives, I'm told there will be a parade when she's finally forced out (or, as they say in the trade, 'leaves to pursue other opportunities.') 

She knew all about Paul Mason's past and yet that's how things were handled. She has repeatedly ensured staff that they are without protection and that any problems that exist at work lie wholly and fully with their own individual failure. In other words, she participates in bullying. She is not a 'resource' for 'humans' but rather a 'schill' for 'bullies.' While she must clearly have received some signals from the very public explosions at UNCG, I hate to rely on hints and the ability to read between the lines as a method for making profound change to an individual brought up in a structure of violence. If that worked, we could simply play episodes of 'Full House' on a non stop loop in America's prison and all problems would magically vanish.

Bonita: The first step toward change is admitting that you have a problem. If you don't want to take that step, I'd suggest your other option is to take your first step out the door.

It's a Legacy...but Is It a Good One?

The News & Record has run its obligatory whitewash of Brady’s ‘legacy’ at UNCG. I was disappointed to read it, but maybe John Newsome had to write it…and anybody who knows the story at all can understand the lack of effusive praise exactly as it’s meant to read. As a blogger, however, I’m not beholden the politics of the city newspaper.

I think we can all definitely agree that Brady’s legacy has profoundly impacted Lee street. It’s whether or not that legacy requires a positive or a negative qualifier that matters. After all, the mere acknowledgement of an impact should be the very lowest bar to set on any human existence. Basically, Newsome has acknowledged that Brady existed. I don’t disagree.

While it is a tradition to name campus buildings after their leaders, I think Newsome’s suggestion that should the Board of Trustees ever consider such an act (doubtful at best) they would be well served to name something off campus since her ‘legacy’ at UNCG is one that, at best, we will shake off, at worst, has damaged us for years to come.

Some faculty are critical of Newsome’s piece, and I understand why (and will address those points in more detail in another post), however, what comes through loud and clear, through nothing more than a recitation of the facts, is the lackluster quality of Brady’s unfortunate tenure at UNCG. Many things were in the works before she got here, some things were accomplished because of others, and everything that she directly initiated resulted in gridlock at best (fill in your own at worst).

It was also interesting to note that she has clearly not learned anything about communication from any part of her experience at UNCG as her only response to the N&R request was another highly polished ‘no comment’ delivered by Joe ‘tight lips’ Gallehugh. 

Susan Safran, the equally unresponsive – thought uncommunicative – chairperson of the Board of Trustees said (and I am not making this up):

“We wouldn’t be in the shape we are in without Linda Brady.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Linda Carlisle Steps Away from the Board

Carlisle, who had two years left on her term with the Board of Trustees, announced this week that she is leaving the board effective June 30. She has not revealed her reasons for leaving, but I am willing to speculate.

Carlisle has a conscience.

There, I’ve said it.

She has watched UNCG administration become increasingly dysfunctional and crooked over the last six years.  The Board has been complicit in each act of tyranny and deception. However, the Board of Trustees is made up of individuals and doesn’t always act with complete unity and accord. Carlisle has had the difficult job of trying to support the university while remaining true to her conscience.

People have many ideas about how change should be brought about and here we have a strong aversion to airing our ‘dirty laundry’ [the primary criticism levied against what I do]. Carlisle did not get to be on the Board of Trustees because she is a hot headed revolutionary, so her tight lipped response to questions about her reasons for leaving is not surprising.

Would I prefer that she spoke out about why she is leaving? Sure. However, we have learned to read between the lines. When a higher up makes a decision and specifically declines to give reason for that decision…it means exactly what we suspect is exactly the case.

Carlisle sent as loud a message as she could.

This board is toxic. The executive structure at UNCG is falling apart. From staff to board, good people are getting out and sending a strong statement: we won’t be part of the assault on the heart and soul of UNCG.

We’re losing the robber barons and the Robin hoods. There are still plenty of us here working on the inside in whatever ways we can; and there are still plenty of us here working now from the outside in whatever ways we can.

The winds of change are blowing.

What Is a Bully?

A bully, according to the dictionary, is:

One who uses superior strength or influence to intimidate someone, typically to force him or her to do what one wants.

Consider the power relationship that exists between Sophie and members of the upper administration at UNCG. What power does she hold? Then, I ask you to think about the relationship between members of the upper administration and their employees.

Where does the power lie? Who is doing the bullying? How can a nobody ‘bully’ the powerful? If I have power, it lies in speaking the truth.

The accusation of injury is a typical tactic when the powerful get called out; to turn the tables and play the victim.

It means this is working.

I am sorry if these people find their own actions to be cruel and insulting. I am sorry if they are experiencing any small measure of the discomfort that they have doled out so glibly to others over the years. I am sorry that this filth had to exist in order for it to come to light.

If there had been other means to address these issues; If it had been possible to deal with these problems via civilized discourse; If they weren’t bullies accustomed to the use of intimidation…but that’s not the world we live in. My mother always used to say: “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

If the executives find it horrifying, they must know that they are responsible. Sophie has held a mirror to their faces and they do not like it when others see their twisted reflection.

If the folks in the upper administration at UNCG are truly concerned with the creation of a positive work environment, then I applaud them. Admitting they have a problem is a first step, but unfortunately, I have seen no indication that such an admission is forthcoming. 

Instead they will play the part of the injured innocent and make bizarre and melodramatic claims that the words I write could incite violence. They may as well claim that I will summon unicorns and the wrath of Horus. Dana Dunn plays the part of a horrified damsel asking if anyone would really like to come work on our campus where such behavior (writing about the truth) is acceptable.

Were they supposed to be more enticed by a place that has its employees arrested? That spends 91 million dollars on a Rec center while claiming a dearth of funds? Where screaming at your employees is considered an executive privilege? Where students are assaulted for exercising free speech?  I could go on, but it isn’t necessary. We’re national news.

The truth hurts. 

It’s time to clean up.