On the Inside Looking In

I write to you having finished all my papers. I had no finals and I have no research projects, grants, or extended work rolling over into the break and I feel so free! I even started a book this afternoon (after a nap, of course). It's the season of reading all the things I want and nothing I don't and I'm very pleased. My best wishes to all those still working on their papers and finals.

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The title of this blog indicates a certain presumptuous way of thinking. Anyone who knows me, knows I am open-minded and have deep affection and appreciation for other cultures and ways of life. But I tend to think about things from an American perspective and I often look at things, asking how they will affect the Americas, mainly the U.S. I guess you could say I'm exceptionalist, though not expansionist in my political sentiments. I do believe the U.S. is part of a divine plan (and not in an evangelical way either) in the sense that I believe in God and I think He has put us on earth and in this land with purpose.

I often find it necessary to question my worldview and way of thinking and part of that involves interrogating the culture to which I belong and subscribe. In other words, I try to take the outsiders perspective and look inward. Last week, as I was finishing up with classes, Gustavo brought in two Chinese professors who are visiting and staying at UMF. Their thoughts on American politics and foreign policy was refreshingly enlightening. They critiqued the current Republican-nomination race, characterizing it as showy and hinting at its circus-like feel; admitted that the President is of less concern than the Secretary of State (Henry Kissinger is still held in high regard there); and said that the Chinese government is not an oppositional force that the U.S. should see as a rivalry, but a partner seeking cooperation from the U.S. I personally favor cooperation, but opinions matter less than the meaning of this story. We need to reflect. We need to think of ourselves in a different light. We need to look inward and discover a truer sense of national identity before proceeding outward.

Bottom-Up Reform, Higher Education Reform & Grey's Anatomy

I want to thank all of the faculty and staff at UMF who have been supportive of me as I've been publishing my "Crisis in Higher Education" series with The Farmington Flyer. I believe everything I am saying and I truly wish it didn't have to be said because the more I know, the more disenfranchised I feel from the institution I have studied at and worked for, for the past four years. I especially want to thank the person (who must remain anonymous so as not to jeopardize their employment) who informed me this week that my articles have become the discussion of the infamous President's Council. If you're not aware of what the PC is, it's okay. I didn't know it even existed until a month ago. Ostensibly, I've only been able to gain a little knowledge of it -none of it from the administration, of course -but what I know troubles me.

Here's what I've heard: the PC is a group composed of the upper administration of UMF and the Director of Athletics. Not a single faculty member sits on this council. The PC is responsible for, among other things, creating schedules. The Director of Athletics sits on the council to make sure that there are as few conflicts as possible between athletic practices and classes. In addition, the PC decides issues of tenure, hiring, and firing (for all those people they don't give tenure to). It's quintessentially tyrannical and disgusting. **Disclosure: if any member of the administration reads this and would like to elaborate on the President's Council's duties or refute my claims, please do!**

But I'm happy to be telling you about all this. Why? First, it is a gesture toward transparency, the ultimate check and balance. Second, it is just another way in which I tell the story of the student. Here, I am standing up for the rights of students and faculty who are being subverted. Maybe it's not much, maybe it's nothing at all, but it is an attempt at the very least to work from the bottom to call for institutional reform. It's the reason I applied to a Master's program in Social Work. It's why I will tell my 'coming-out' story for an art (queer-art-politics) project this weekend. I don't have time to set up a tent and Occupy something and defend the proverbial 'little man.' But I am a visual/written artist and I can tell a story and hope, hopelessly hope that someone listens.

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Some other food for thought: where did Grey's Anatomy go? I know it's become this kind of primetime soap opera, but it was so delectable! They just killed Teddy's husband and now I want the second part! Also, anyone unfamiliar with Mumford & Sons or Fela Kuti should get familiar.

Mel is back on Tuesday and even though we can't see each other for at least a week, I'm cracking a huge bottle of wine for her in celebration.