It’s an academia phenomenon. Students are beginning to speak in opposition to the senates’ methodologies and policies. Why? Students are flummoxed with the senates’ inability to perform its mission, inability to adhere to the UMB Constitution and Bylaws, inability to represent for the students by the students of UMass Boston, and biased attempts to sully and discredit The Mass Media.
This senate is like a cancer because senators do not peruse, or read at all, the senates’ constitution or bylaws and as a result manipulate the policies and procedures when it is convenient to them; the presidents’ rule is that of a dictator; senators rely on subjective and biased information rather than garnering the information from an objective viewpoint; senators create a “good old boys network/infrastructure” and a “yes-man” approach while deliberating and adjudicating in senate and committee sessions; senators are defensive with their implementation of deliverables; senators are looking for immediate praise and gratification leading to pontiff status from their peers or the administration; senators choose dubious senators for leadership roles not based on merit, experience, or education; senators do not investigate divisive or inappropriate behavior and/or conduct, internally, either under the advice of the administration or because of senate leadership pressure(s); the senate presidents’ use of expletive remarks and his lack of respect to other senators, the student trustee, students, and advisors are unwarranted, unprovoked, malevolent, and most importantly, unprofessional; the student trustees’ inappropriate and misguided behavior and conduct reflect poorly of the UMass Boston system and academia overall; the student senate does not truly represent YOU (caps added for emphasis); etc. etc.
I hope you are all familiar with the IBM commercial trailer depicting the executive board in a meeting room sitting around the table analyzing a new spoof gadget they just bought for their servers. If not, you should try to get a chance to view it. The executive asks, “What does the device do?” A manager states something like, “Ask the gadget anything pertaining to business and if the managers are insincere the gadget will ring its bells and blow its whistles.” The executive in charge quizzically asks questions to the manager’s sitting around the table. He asks a woman coworker sitting next to him, “How’s the inventory look for this week?” The woman replies, “Everything looks great.” The gadget rings its bells and blows its whistles. The executive asks another male coworker a question, “How are the numbers looking for NPV?” The coworker replies, “No problems on this end.” The gadget, again, rings its bells and blows its whistles. Finally the executive asks another coworker another question, “What do you think about …?” The male coworker fastidiously states, “I don’t think I’m a yes-man.” The gadget remains silent. My point to this charade reflects the last statement made by the male coworker. “I DON’T THINK I’M A YES-MAN” (caps added for emphasis).
I am asking the student senate, on a leap of faith, to help me and others who may be in similar situations, to restore my/our confidence in the University of Massachusetts Boston Constitution and Bylaws; the University of Massachusetts Boston Student Handbook on Code of Conduct; the Student Senate Constitution and Bylaws; and the Student Senates’ policies, behaviors, and conduct.
As a student of this University, I expect an answer and I expect a fair and just system. I will continue to strive for basic fairness and a just system; I will continue to address any issue that warrants inquiry; not only for myself, but also for the constituents of the University of Massachusetts Boston. I investigate these issues because they are important to me.
In The Mass Media article, February 20, 2003, page A4, “Fourth Floor Furor Over Article”, Senator Maria Moreno, states, … the student senate has been encountering many discomforting articles that are being published by the staff of the Mass Media (sic) that are unprofessional, giving false reports about events and procedures that go on around the UMass campus. Instead of publishing articles that are filled with misleading information (sic) half-truths and some times out-right lies that make absolutely no since (sic) and that can be hurtful to the many students at UMass, I would like to recommend to the Editor of the Mass Media (sic) to take a minute or two and train its Mass Media (sic) reporters to properly research and interview before reporting.
Vice President Tuan Pham agreed with Senator Moreno, accusing the newspaper of “irresponsible journalism.” Senator Hyppolite quipped, “It isn’t like your ideal example of objective journalism.”
Senate should practice what they preach. Student Senate should form an ad hoc investigation committee to look into the wrongdoings of the student trustees’ sexual harassment and sexual assault; student senate should investigate the ad hominem manner several senators made false accusations against my person; and student senate should investigate the senate presidents’ inability to lead this University professionally, successfully, and competently.
J. Stone Laraway IICM, MIS 2003