I apologize for the number of University of Colorado articles I provide to you, but since that is in my backyard I can't help but read news that makes me laugh and makes me think... today I have one that fits both categories. The Boulder Daily Camera is reporting that:
Well, the student College Democrats are not waiting for the $9 million before launching a campaign to oppose the hiring.
CU leaders last year announced plans to create a $9 million endowment to fund the Visiting Chair in Conservative Thought and Policy on the Boulder campus, which long has been derided as a liberal bastion.
(Editorial note-- I love the inclusion of the word "bastion" in this article. LOL!).
"The entire concept of a Visiting Chair in Conservative Thought and Policy politicizes academics in a way that is contrary to the university's mission," senior Jesse Jensen, president of the College Democrats, said Monday. "By endowing a chair in one specific political ideology, we are not promoting intellectual diversity -- we are tokenizing a point of view that should be presented in all classes on political thought."
Although it presents a headache for the administration, what a great opportunity for students to fight for their beliefs (both in favor and against this endowed chair). After all, we are in the business of educating and providing real-world experiences, right?
But this also is a great time to remind everyone that students can and will oppose your fundraising initiatives. Potentially polarizing topics like this endowed chair HAD to have included a plan for the roll-out, but I've also worked with a college that had students oppose a new student center because it reduced green space on campus, and another institution that had alumni vocally ask for accountability with annual fund donations. Think through how you are going to talk to internal and external audiences before, during and after fundraising. After all, today's students are tomorrow's alumni (and hopefully donors).
To end on a LOL note, read the comments at the end of the Camera's article. I love Boulder!
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