Great Expectations

The Ohio University Board of Trustees is headed back to Athens on Thursday for another meeting.

This time, they will be voting on the resolution so innocently titled the "Statement of Expectations."

In the fall, enough protest and outcry arose from campus groups that the vote was delayed until this Friday.

So, what is the "Statement of Expectations?"

You can read it in its entirety here on pages 445-448.

It is basically a resolution outlining the role of the Trustees in the university community and, more importantly, in the university's corporate culture. And while minor changes have been made that now make it explicitly clear that Trustees can voice individual dissent as long as they are not speaking for the Board as a whole, this clauses catches my eye:

"e. While Trustees should seek information and ask questions of others, they should refrain from publicly criticizing the President or other members of the University Community. Criticisms or concerns that Trustees may have about the President or other members of the University Community should be conveyed to the Chair who will determine the appropriate method for the Board to address the issue."

In essence, this clause undoes all the freedoms that the document previously afforded Trustees who wish to voice their dissent. Who constitutes as a "member of the University Community?" Do I? Do you? If so, then what can a Trustee say when they disapprove of a policy or resolution?

The good news here, though, is that this resolution is non-binding and acts as guidelines only so, as far as I know, no repercussions will be felt if a Trustees does dissent vocally or publicly criticize the President.

I encourage everyone to let your voices be heard, however, and tell the Trustees that this resolution is unnecessary and that the muzzle-effect doesn't work. You cannot successfully silence dissent without blatant disregard for the First Amendment right of freedom of speech.

Insist that this resolution be thrown out...the implications of its passing are too great. Should this resolution be successful, the culture of fear and inaccessibility will reach a fever pitch here in Athens and we will have passed a point of no return. In the fall, a group of vocal students and constituents stopped voting on this resolution - we can do it again...and this time we can silence those who wish to silence others.

Evan Millward
President, OU SPJ