… once again cracks the whip. You recall its directive to faculty last year:
In an email sent March 22 to faculty and staff, Sabrina Land, the university’s director of marketing and communications, wrote that all communications must be “strategically deployed” in a way that “safeguards the reputation, work product and ultimately, the students, of CSU.”
The policy applies to media interviews, opinion pieces, newsletters, social media and other types of communications, stating that they must be approved by the university’s division of public relations. “All disclosures to the media will be communicated by an authorized CSU media relations officer or designate,” the policy says.
Failure to follow the rules “will be treated as serious and will result in disciplinary action, possible termination and could give rise to civil and/or criminal liability on the part of the employee.”
And they meant it, baby. Chicago State has a 10% graduation rate, and much else besides, to protect; and now you’ve got some faculty undermining the peace-loving progressive masses of CSU by starting a blog!
A blog written by Chicago State University faculty members that has been critical of the school’s administration was sent a “cease and desist” notice by university lawyers …
[CSU] said the blog “violates the University’s values and policies requiring civility and professionalism of all University faculty members.”
Cage demanded that site administrators “immediately disable” the blog and provide written confirmation of that no later than Friday to “avoid legal action.”
UD trusts free speech advocates are all over this one. I’d say it’s an outrage, but everything about CSU is outrageous and it still syphons huge tax dollars from the poor citizens of Illinois. So it’s wasted breath.
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Scott Jaschik takes note.
November 12th, 2013 at 7:56PM
Do you know if the current heading on the blog was a reaction to the cease and desist order, or part of the cause? Either way, it’s a hoot!
CRONY STATE UNIVERSITY
“We Hire Our Friends”
November 12th, 2013 at 8:56PM
Marcie: It was a response to the cease and desist order.
November 14th, 2013 at 7:01AM
And don’t forget–they started the blog FOUR YEARS AGO! Its “trademark dilution” and lack of “civility and professionalism” have only now become a problem. Right after faculty started posting proof of crony hires of people who falsified their employment applications.
November 14th, 2013 at 8:13PM
As bad as what’s chronicled here, the bullshit that university financial aide departments have engaged in trying to get high school students to sign up for predatory loans is, without question, fraudulent.