[Vision2020] A Plea for the University of Idaho Press
DonaldH675@aol.com
DonaldH675@aol.com
Tue, 24 Feb 2004 20:51:06 EST
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Dear President elect White:
=20
I wish to add my voice to those who have already written to you regarding th=
e=20
decision to close the University of Idaho Press. As an academic, you=20
understand the prestige an academic press adds to any university, particular=
ly a land=20
grant school. I could argue, correctly, that the Press has made tremendous=20
strides in correcting financial deficits. Its recent publishing record, und=
er=20
the direction of Ivar Nelson, is one of which we should all be proud. I cou=
ld=20
also suggest, correctly, that the pending agreement between the University o=
f=20
Washington Press and the University of Idaho Press addresses any lingering=20
financial problems, while maintaining the integrity of a locally managed pre=
ss. =20
But it seems to me that the most compelling reason for you to override actin=
g=20
President Michael=E2=80=99s decision is the climate that awaits you when you=
assume=20
the UI Presidency.=20
=20
In your speech following the announcement of your appointment, you told the=20
faculty, staff, students and press that you would work to repair the reputat=
ion=20
of the University of Idaho. You gave us the impression that you were=20
concerned about morale. You seemed to offer hope that you would try earnest=
ly to=20
reverse the pervasive sense of hopelessness and despair that is epidemic amo=
ng=20
faculty, staff, and students. This is not simply a question of overcoming a=
=20
year of horrendous publicity. The University of Idaho has suffered grievous=
ly=20
from decisions that were notable more for their advancement of senior=20
administrators rather than the university's best interests. Athletic progra=
ms (serving=20
a very small percentage of students) and pointless facility boondoggles have=
=20
taken, and continue to take, precedence over academic programs, and they hav=
e=20
trumped important research, teaching, publishing initiatives (of which the U=
I=20
Press is just one), and the needs of university employees. =20
=20
Moscow is a small town; indeed, demographically, Idaho is a small state. =20
Reversing the detrimental decision to close the UI Press would be more than=20=
just=20
a gesture of good intentions and goodwill. It would show that you genuinely=
=20
intend to redirect the focus of the University of Idaho in a consequential w=
ay.=20
You have an opportunity to demonstrate that you intend to make academic=20
programs, staff, students, and faculty your top priority. This is a chance=20=
to=20
proclaim to all of us that you will serve the institution instead of using t=
he=20
institution to serve yourself. I urge you to take this opportunity to set a=
=20
positive climate for your tenure as president. A thoughtful response to our=
=20
concerns will do more to increase Foundation donations and repair the good f=
aith=20
of the community than you can possibly imagine.
=20
In contrast, letting this decision stand will signal all of us that=20
regardless of who occupies the UI presidency, our school is still not about=20=
faculty,=20
students, staff or academic programs =E2=80=93 it's about gold plated locker=
s for the=20
football team and million dollar HVAC systems for swimming pools. =20
=20
The choice, Dr. White, is yours. Let the legacy you hope to build begin=20
today.=20
=20
Sincerely,
=20
Rosemary Huskey
1738 Genesee Troy Road
Moscow, Idaho 83843
Tel. 208 882 8085
Email: donaldh675@aol.com
=20
I thank Representative Trail for this fine tag line.
"Once you lose integrity everything else is easy."=20
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<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">Dear President elect White:<o:p></o:p>=
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">I wish to add my voice to those who ha=
ve already written to you regarding the decision to close the </SPAN><st1:pl=
ace><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">University</SPAN></st1:Pl=
aceType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> of </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><SPAN styl=
e=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Idaho Press</SPAN></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><SPAN st=
yle=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As=20=
an academic, you understand the prestige an academic press adds to any unive=
rsity, particularly a land grant school.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&n=
bsp; </SPAN>I could argue, correctly, that the Press has made tremendous str=
ides in correcting financial deficits.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbs=
p; </SPAN>Its recent publishing record, under the direction of Ivar Nelson,=20=
is one of which we should all be proud.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nb=
sp; </SPAN>I could also suggest, correctly, that the pending agreement betwe=
en the </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Univ=
ersity</SPAN></st1:PlaceType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> of </SPAN><st1=
:PlaceName><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Washington Press</SPAN></st1:Plac=
eName></st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> and the </SPAN><st1:place=
><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">University</SPAN></st1:Place=
Type><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> of </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Idaho Press</SPAN></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><SPAN sty=
le=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> addresses any lingering financial problems, while ma=
intaining the integrity of a locally managed press.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes"> </SPAN>But it seems to me that the most compelling reason fo=
r you to override acting President Michael=E2=80=99s decision is the climate=
that awaits you when you assume the UI Presidency. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT=
></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">In your speech following the announcem=
ent of your appointment, you told the faculty, staff, students and press tha=
t you would work to repair the reputation of the </SPAN><st1:place><st1:Plac=
eType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">University</SPAN></st1:PlaceType><SPAN=
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> of </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZ=
E: 11pt">Idaho</SPAN></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 1=
1pt">.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You gave us the impres=
sion that you were concerned about morale.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=
</SPAN>You seemed to offer hope that you would try earnestly to rever=
se the pervasive sense of hopelessness and despair that is epidemic among fa=
culty, staff, and students. <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>T=
his is not simply a question of overcoming a year of horrendous publicity.<S=
PAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The </SPAN><st1:place><st1:Pla=
ceType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">University</SPAN></st1:PlaceType><SPA=
N style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> of </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SI=
ZE: 11pt">Idaho</SPAN></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=20=
11pt"> has suffered grievously from decisions that were notable more for the=
ir advancement of senior administrators rather than the university's best in=
terests.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Athletic programs (s=
erving a very small percentage of students) and pointless facility boondoggl=
es have taken, and continue to take, precedence over academic programs, and=20=
they have trumped important research, teaching, publishing initiatives=20=
(of which the UI Press is just one), and the needs of university employ=
ees.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT=
></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman"><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Moscow</SPAN></st=
1:place></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> is a small town; indeed,=
demographically, </SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11p=
t">Idaho</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> is a=
small state.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Reversing the d=
etrimental decision to close the UI Press would be more than just a gesture=20=
of good intentions and goodwill.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </S=
PAN>It would show that you genuinely intend to redirect the focus of the </S=
PAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">University</SP=
AN></st1:PlaceType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> of </SPAN><st1:PlaceName=
><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Idaho</SPAN></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><SP=
AN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> in a consequential way.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spac=
erun: yes"> </SPAN>You have an opportunity to demonstrate that yo=
u intend to make academic programs, staff, students, and faculty your top pr=
iority.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is a chance to p=
roclaim to all of us that you will serve the institution instead of usi=
ng the institution to serve yourself.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=
</SPAN>I urge you to take this opportunity to set a positive climate=20=
for your tenure as president.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN=
>A thoughtful response to our concerns will do more to increase Foundation d=
onations and repair the good faith of the community than you can possibly im=
agine.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">In contrast, letting this decision sta=
nd will signal all of us that regardless of who occupies the UI presidency,=20=
our school is still not about faculty, students, staff or academic programs=20=
=E2=80=93 it's about gold plated lockers for the football team and million d=
ollar HVAC systems for swimming pools.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbs=
p; </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">The choice, Dr. White, is yours.<SPAN=20=
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Let the legacy you hope to build b=
egin today. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P=
>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN><SPAN s=
tyle=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> </FONT></=
o:p></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roma=
n"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">Rosemary Huskey<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPA=
N></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman"><st1:Street><st1:address><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">1738 Genesee=20=
Troy Road</SPAN></st1:address></st1:Street><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><=
o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman"><st1:place><st1:City><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Moscow</SPAN></st=
1:City><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">, </SPAN><st1:State><SPAN style=3D"FO=
NT-SIZE: 11pt">Idaho</SPAN></st1:State><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </SP=
AN><st1:PostalCode><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt">83843</SPAN></st1:PostalC=
ode></st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P=
>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">Tel. 208 882 8085<o:p></o:p></FONT></S=
PAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">Email: </FONT><A href=3D"mailto:donald=
h675@aol.com"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">donaldh675@aol.com</FONT></A><o=
:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE:=
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P></D=
IV>
<DIV><FONT lang=3D0 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3 FAMILY=3D"SERIF" PTSIZ=
E=3D"12">I thank Representative Trail for this fine tag line.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=3D0 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3 FAMILY=3D"SERIF" PTSIZ=
E=3D"12">"Once you lose integrity everything else is easy." </FONT></DIV></B=
ODY></HTML>
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