Category: college

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standing room only for F.I.R.E. at Cal Poly

UPDATE: click to  listen to Adam Kissel’s complete Audio of his presentation at Cal Poly

standing room only greets the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
with fifteen minutes to go before it was scheduled to start, the room was filling up!

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has a 7 year history in working with Cal Poly starting with the now famous Steve Hinkle case. Steve Hinkle beat Cal Poly in Federal Court and proved that even large institutions must follow the law.

Yesterday, Adam Kissel of F.I.R.E. met with three administrators, but to be honest, he actually ‘dropped’ by one who had an ‘open’ spot on their calendar. To me, it sounded like the administrators really didn’t get this ‘constitutional rights’ stuff and at a minimum, they seemed to disagree with all of it! wow…. sounds like more fun with Cal Poly down the road.

Here is a link to the Adam Kissel event and further link to F.I.R.E.’s complete history with Cal Poly… which — unfortunately —  is not over.

Thanks to all who are working to change the Cal Poly culture, even if it turns out to be one federal lawsuit at a time.

Roger Freberg

My View: The University as ‘PARENT?’… We all expected that when the state determined adulthood began at 18 that this would open the door to students for self determination, greater responsibility and authority over themselves. However, many universities — and I believe Cal Poly to be one of them — act as though it is now their ‘parental’ role to step in to change and mold the values of incoming students to fit their grand socio-political view… using coercion and harsh discipline to ensure compliance. This is ethically troublesome and morally repugnant although is clearly part of the Cal Poly culture.

Years ago, a fellow faculty member once told me that ‘Cal Poly rewards compliance and not achievement’. I still wince a bit when I see sycophants rewarded and those of achievement ignored…. unfortunately, I believe  this value still permeates the Cal Poly administrative culture from top to bottom.

It appears to me that Cal Poly’s most cherished goal of education is not achievement, but compliance.

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food for thought

food4thought 001

I remember with great fondness those people in my life who brought food to a gathering. Their unspoken generosity was always endearing. I particularly remember teachers and coaches who would celebrate an occasion or emphasize a lesson by breaking bread with the rest of us. What always amazed me is that I remembered everything and took a lot more away with me from the situation than I expected. That day, I would learn a lot and it would always bring a smile.

In our family, we have always found the best social lubricant is great food. Only the most stubbornly obstinate would not smile  over a piece of Baklava or a nutty-fudgy-brownie! So besides bringing chocolate for Halloween my three teachers (Laura and Karen … and Kristin soon) sometimes accentuate the positive in class with a sweet something.

Pictured above are wonderful brownies that Laura is taking to her honors students in Psychology class today.

Thanks to all the teachers who make this difference.

Roger

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cal poly and looking in the mirror

"when you look in the mirror, it's nice to like what you see"
"when you look in the mirror, it's nice to like what you see"

In a local  web site and in  Cal Poly’s student newspaper , each reported that the proposed joint venture between Cal Poly and Saudi Arabia failed – in as much as a contract was never signed. This was a project that was doomed as soon as it went public and the real question is why it took so long to die?

The Cal Poly student newspaper gave no apology or admission of wrong doing by the administration … the only thing really reported was of the project contract’s failure to be signed. Admitting one’s mistake is the first step to ensuring it won’t happen again…. or is it they just regret being caught?

“Noori’s assistant, Jo Ernest, stated that “the agreement was not signed by all the parties,” and consequently did not come to fruition.

Dean Noori was unavailable comment on the apparent end to the collaborative effort.”

I am not convinced that the project is dead, I think it has merely gone underground and time will tell if it resurrects itself in some form or fashion. I do not feel like gloating as far too many whistle blowers risked their careers to bring this information to the public eye and for that many of us thank them sincerely.

Hopefully, Cal Poly will begin the process of looking in the mirror and making the necessary changes until they like what the rest of us want to see…. and this — IMHO — starts at the top.

Roger Freberg

Here’s one of  my last posts on the subject with links for those who missed all the fun

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behind cal poly’s green door?

behidthegreendoor

We may never know what goes on behind Cal Poly’s very secretive ‘green door.’

I was saddened to learn that our Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a California Bill that would close the secrecy loop hole that our public educational institutions have in hiding many of the things they do. Although business in places like the Cal Poly foundation are done , not in Arnold’s smoke filled rooms, but with folks sucking down mineral water and munching crispy creams… it’s all done without the public’s knowledge. The cat has been left in charge of the canary.

In addition, the  Cal Poly foundation — being private — does not have to abide by many of those archaic fairness rules that public institutions must follow. The foundation has a virtual monopoly in campus food service and virtually every other economic activity on the Cal Poly campus. Don’t try to have a charitable tamale fundraiser on campus… they won’t allow the ‘competition.’  By the way, there are no ‘bargains’ on campus… the foundations pricing policies are greedy from a pricey used textbook at the book store ( which they buy back for virtually nothing) to buying a cup of coffee anywhere on campus. They even operate a store in town, so much for not competing with the private sector.

BTW, having been involved in retail pricing and marketing on college campuses, let’s just say that the foundation has a sweet deal with no competition! And in my humble opinion, somebody is making a lot of money…. a lot of money on the backs of students and employees.

So… how is this money being made and where is that money going? Well, thanks to Arnold, we may never know.

Roger Freberg

By the way, for some reason Google likes Cal Poly and this post will not be found there… however, it will be searchable on Twitter,Yahoo and Bing

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where stupidity is an artform – Cal Poly

YourFuzziness

When I am not blogging about things I love, I throw a few well deserved bricks at Cal Poly. Over the years, Cal Poly has received much well deserved national attention as a leader in squashing student rights that are clearly protected by the constitution. However, when it comes to throwing students out of school for rioting, drugs and such … they show a remarkable tolerance.

Nothing so clearly demonstrates the collision of cultures better than a recent story about a young underage male coming to the rescue of his underage alcohol boozing roommate only to get arrested himself… and then having the additional problem of possession of cocaine. Interestingly enough, the youngins didn’t understand ‘the problem.’ Oh yes, we have had the rioting and excessive partying completing the full academic experience.

Cal Poly has had a couple of deaths this academic year I believe, maybe more, I haven’t kept score, from ‘alcohol related instances’ as they call them. Local hospitals report an alarming number of college age youth coming in severely ‘impaired.’ Nothing of this is a surprise and — from what I can see — nothing is happening at Cal Poly… or likely will ever be.

I remember on one site that discussed colleges, one experienced allegedly Cal Poly student wrote,” Cal Poly is a great choice because school won’t interfere with your social life.” I wonder how many parents would be thrilled to read this?

This overt behavior can be addressed, but it takes the ‘will’ to stop it… and it takes more than a Cal Poly ‘wink.’ It takes a real commitment to excellence.

The world is a lot more serious and competitive place now, it’s time that Cal Poly grows up and face it.

Roger Freberg

Here’s a link to one very sad event.