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ETHAN MERMELSTEIN: Stand tough, Deis leaders
by Ethan Mermelstein
Columnists | 2/24/09
Posted online at 1:21 AM EST on 2/24/09
I was satisfied-maybe even impressed-by two major recent examples of administrative backpedaling. The first was University President Jehuda Reinharz's apology for mishandling the process and announcement of the decision to sell the Rose Art Museum collection, and the second was the revocation of the proposal to withhold the merit scholarship money previously promised to students who chose to study abroad.
But considering these incidents within the context of the student body's impressive vocal dissent and the school's potentially dire financial situation, however, the flip-flopping has made me a little nervous. In these two particular cases, retraction and amelioration were the only real options. But in the larger scope of things, the administration must be wary of creating a habitual situation in which it is influenced by public discontent to refrain from the bold action needed to ensure Brandeis' future as a premier research university and an overall respectable institution.
Passionate Brandeis students have proven that they are adept at effectively mobilizing to voice their concerns as a group when they find flaws in administrative decisions. Protests, sit-ins, letters, mock funeral processions and so on have captured the attention of the administration and often the media. Take a look at last week's failure of a chaotic protest by students at New York University in order to fully appreciate the rare eloquence of Brandeis students' collective voice and the even rarer responsiveness of the administration here.
On the surface, recent reactive statements and actions by administrative bodies may seem like student victories. The feeling of emerging triumphant and seeing the effects of "sticking it to The Man" is unmatched. It is important that public expressions of disapproval aren't executed solely in order to have this feeling. Students need to recognize the power of their collective voice and take the dire financial situation facing Brandeis into account before deciding that they are ardently opposed to changes taking place within the school.
But considering these incidents within the context of the student body's impressive vocal dissent and the school's potentially dire financial situation, however, the flip-flopping has made me a little nervous. In these two particular cases, retraction and amelioration were the only real options. But in the larger scope of things, the administration must be wary of creating a habitual situation in which it is influenced by public discontent to refrain from the bold action needed to ensure Brandeis' future as a premier research university and an overall respectable institution.
Passionate Brandeis students have proven that they are adept at effectively mobilizing to voice their concerns as a group when they find flaws in administrative decisions. Protests, sit-ins, letters, mock funeral processions and so on have captured the attention of the administration and often the media. Take a look at last week's failure of a chaotic protest by students at New York University in order to fully appreciate the rare eloquence of Brandeis students' collective voice and the even rarer responsiveness of the administration here.
On the surface, recent reactive statements and actions by administrative bodies may seem like student victories. The feeling of emerging triumphant and seeing the effects of "sticking it to The Man" is unmatched. It is important that public expressions of disapproval aren't executed solely in order to have this feeling. Students need to recognize the power of their collective voice and take the dire financial situation facing Brandeis into account before deciding that they are ardently opposed to changes taking place within the school.
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Lisa Hirsch '80
posted 2/25/09 @ 9:22 AM EST
Drastic action is required - and the University didn't even _attempt_ a special fund-raising drive before decide to liquidate the Rose collection. The administration might consider trying that first: lay out the specifics of the situation (here's the shortfall, here's what we think we need over the next 5 years, here's what we have done so far) and ask for money. (Continued…)
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