Over the weekend the Sacramento Bee wrote an editorial outrageously insulting to faculty. The original editorial is available online at:
http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/story/2161639.html
It has since been republished in slightly modified form at:
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/story/845602.html
The Bee had earlier written a news article (that actually was quite editorial in tone) on the same subject. The article is available at:
http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/2157486.html
Individual FA members have posted responses in the comments sections of the online versions of these articles. Richard Scalettar, a DFA board member who was mentioned by name in one version of the editorial, is preparing a response that the Bee has indicated it will print so long as it meets a strict 400 word length requirement.
Meanwhile, the Davis Faculty Association also sent an official response which we hope the Bee will publish in their letters section (again, strict length restrictions apply, this time 200 words). The response reads:
This weekend we saw the Bee disparage and mock the actions of faculty members at UC Davis who are attempting to draw attention to dire conditions at the University. Although the Davis Faculty Association has not participated in the planned walk out by faculty, we understand the concern for the University that has motivated our colleagues to take this measure. It is not motivated, as the Bee suggested on Saturday, by a selfish desire to maintain a fictional ivory tower. The faculty of the University are dedicated teachers and researchers. It is ironical that the Professor singled out by name in Saturday’s editorial is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring. The Bee should understand that the faculty are acting out of a sense of frustration and concern about the demise of a great public University.
Sincerely,
Ian Kennedy
Chair, Davis Faculty Association (ucdfa.org)