Comments for The Multiversity and Beyond http://liammitchell.wordpress.com Commentary on higher education and the world at large. Tue, 19 May 2009 04:50:26 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on The Purpose of University by Matt Deaton http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/2009/04/19/the-purpose-of-universty/#comment-99 Matt Deaton Tue, 19 May 2009 04:50:26 +0000 http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/?p=743#comment-99 Hey Liam, Glad I stopped by and scrolled down! Thanks for the props, and kudos on the superb article. I guess that 40-40-20 balance sounds about right, depending on the field, the particular professor's strengths, and his/her desires. It seems however that higher education is set up to reward those who research (and publish--because doing so wins departments grants and prestige), to belittle those who teach (screw the petty undergrads--just a nuisance getting in the way of the REAL job--research), and to disdain those who seriously engage the public (temporarily lowering the facade to communicate risks undermining the academy's authority--must keep everything intellectually impenetrable!). However, career pressures are no excuse. Good professors know in their heart their obligations are split, and simply have to rank personal gain secondary to justifying their status. Big talk, I know. If and when the time comes for me to follow through, I hope I'll have the guts to do so. Hey Liam,
Glad I stopped by and scrolled down! Thanks for the props, and kudos on the superb article. I guess that 40-40-20 balance sounds about right, depending on the field, the particular professor’s strengths, and his/her desires.

It seems however that higher education is set up to reward those who research (and publish–because doing so wins departments grants and prestige), to belittle those who teach (screw the petty undergrads–just a nuisance getting in the way of the REAL job–research), and to disdain those who seriously engage the public (temporarily lowering the facade to communicate risks undermining the academy’s authority–must keep everything intellectually impenetrable!).

However, career pressures are no excuse. Good professors know in their heart their obligations are split, and simply have to rank personal gain secondary to justifying their status. Big talk, I know. If and when the time comes for me to follow through, I hope I’ll have the guts to do so.

]]> Comment on The Purpose of University by Matt Deaton http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/2009/04/19/the-purpose-of-universty/#comment-98 Matt Deaton Tue, 19 May 2009 04:40:10 +0000 http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/?p=743#comment-98 Hey Liam, Hey Liam,

]]> Comment on When to say no by Matt Deaton http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/when-to-say-no/#comment-97 Matt Deaton Tue, 19 May 2009 04:35:38 +0000 http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/?p=769#comment-97 I'm doing my best to remain high minded, Liam, but the lesser Matt is tempted to say that such a scholarship might be justified if it were the case that aboriginal students already received ample educational incentives and opportunities, perhaps at the expense of non-aboriginal students on the cusp of being able to afford college. This would be compounded if it were the case that schools lowered admissions standards for aboriginal students, or were required to meet some quota. However, the fact that the donor's stipulation is selectively exclusionary rather than selectively inclusive is disturbing. Had he/she mandated that the money only fund, say, men of European descent, that seems more tolerable than the requirement that it NOT go to aboriginal students. The former seems structurally similar enough to existing help for minorities to possibly pass muster, especially in light of the potential compounding factors (potential existing privileges that I can neither confirm nor deny, since I'm out of the Canadian loop). But targeting a group for exclusion just sounds especially malicious and mean-spirited--the sort of thing a university certainly should turn down. I’m doing my best to remain high minded, Liam, but the lesser Matt is tempted to say that such a scholarship might be justified if it were the case that aboriginal students already received ample educational incentives and opportunities, perhaps at the expense of non-aboriginal students on the cusp of being able to afford college. This would be compounded if it were the case that schools lowered admissions standards for aboriginal students, or were required to meet some quota.

However, the fact that the donor’s stipulation is selectively exclusionary rather than selectively inclusive is disturbing. Had he/she mandated that the money only fund, say, men of European descent, that seems more tolerable than the requirement that it NOT go to aboriginal students. The former seems structurally similar enough to existing help for minorities to possibly pass muster, especially in light of the potential compounding factors (potential existing privileges that I can neither confirm nor deny, since I’m out of the Canadian loop). But targeting a group for exclusion just sounds especially malicious and mean-spirited–the sort of thing a university certainly should turn down.

]]> Comment on Why you should bail out your neighbour by Matt Deaton http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/why-you-should-bail-out-your-neighbour/#comment-87 Matt Deaton Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:33:34 +0000 http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/?p=730#comment-87 My reaction was, "What a jackass." Really, the downturn is bringing the worst out. As if resentment against the bankers wasn't enough, now we've got our "lazy and irresponsible" neighbors to hate too. Glad to see you inject a little humility and compassion. My reaction was, “What a jackass.” Really, the downturn is bringing the worst out. As if resentment against the bankers wasn’t enough, now we’ve got our “lazy and irresponsible” neighbors to hate too. Glad to see you inject a little humility and compassion.

]]> Comment on Set Dress Much? by Matt Deaton http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/set-dress-much/#comment-86 Matt Deaton Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:29:28 +0000 http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/?p=734#comment-86 You know, I was thinking the same thing. "Look at all those US flags. What's up with that?" Overkill for sure, but if their intent was to remind Americans Canada's an ally, mission accomplished. You know, I was thinking the same thing. “Look at all those US flags. What’s up with that?” Overkill for sure, but if their intent was to remind Americans Canada’s an ally, mission accomplished.

]]> Comment on Harper may stall, but his government will fall by thereginamom http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/harper-may-stall-but-his-government-will-fall/#comment-72 thereginamom Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:44:04 +0000 http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/?p=696#comment-72 Hey! You have me on your blogroll! Thanks, dude! If I ever get around to building one... The alternative was to find other precedents in parliamentary democracies to support a different decision. As I blogged earlier this a.m. we can see <a href="http://thereginamom.wordpress.com/2008/12/05/prorogue-precedents/" rel="nofollow">some of the precedents</a> that could be said to support her decision. Hey! You have me on your blogroll! Thanks, dude! If I ever get around to building one…

The alternative was to find other precedents in parliamentary democracies to support a different decision. As I blogged earlier this a.m. we can see some of the precedents that could be said to support her decision.

]]> Comment on Harper’s Thinking by thenonconformer http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/harpers-thinking/#comment-71 thenonconformer Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:10:48 +0000 http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/?p=175#comment-71 HARPER THE LIAR HAS EARNED THE POWER TO STAY SAY HIS STAFF AND SUPPORTERS DREAM ON BUT STILL FIRE THE USLESS TWIT http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/a-very-sick-harper/ HARPER THE LIAR HAS EARNED THE POWER TO STAY SAY HIS STAFF AND SUPPORTERS

DREAM ON BUT STILL FIRE THE USLESS TWIT

http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/a-very-sick-harper/

]]> Comment on Harper may stall, but his government will fall by Straight Up http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/harper-may-stall-but-his-government-will-fall/#comment-69 Straight Up Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:51:39 +0000 http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/?p=696#comment-69 Not so. A government that truly represented the wishes of Canadian voters was one that comprised the Liberals, NDP and Bloc? That's quite a twist. Liberal supporters did not cast their vote for the NDP, NDP supporters did not cast their vote for Liberals etc. These three parties could have let parliament run its course, waited for the budget and defeated it. Simple. Why didn't they do that instead of putting the country in turmoil? They didn't have the guts, they would have lost another election. So instead they attempt to overthrow the government and stick a guy in the PM seat that even his party doesn't want to lead them but oh that's okay he can run the country for now until we pick a new leader and put him in the seat. This was an insult to the Canadian voter-all of them (Liberals, NDP, Conservative & Bloc) As for the billion dollars-read the Accord. You may want to change your mind. Not so. A government that truly represented the wishes of Canadian voters was one that comprised the Liberals, NDP and Bloc? That’s quite a twist. Liberal supporters did not cast their vote for the NDP, NDP supporters did not cast their vote for Liberals etc. These three parties could have let parliament run its course, waited for the budget and defeated it. Simple. Why didn’t they do that instead of putting the country in turmoil? They didn’t have the guts, they would have lost another election. So instead they attempt to overthrow the government and stick a guy in the PM seat that even his party doesn’t want to lead them but oh that’s okay he can run the country for now until we pick a new leader and put him in the seat. This was an insult to the Canadian voter-all of them (Liberals, NDP, Conservative & Bloc) As for the billion dollars-read the Accord. You may want to change your mind.

]]> Comment on Harper may stall, but his government will fall by liammitchell http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/harper-may-stall-but-his-government-will-fall/#comment-68 liammitchell Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:03:58 +0000 http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/?p=696#comment-68 The alternative was to recognize that a majority of Canadians did not vote for Harper or the Tories. A government that truly represented the wishes of Canadian voters was one that comprised the Liberals, NDP and Bloc who could put differences aside to serve the Canadian people. The suggestion that the Grits, NDP and Bloc are "directly opposed ideologically" (not "idealogically") is completely false. All share a centre-left political view that allows them to find the common ground upon which to form a coalition. "Straight Up" what is this "Billion dollar price tag" you speak of?!?! Are these more vague Tory allegations that prove to be lies and misleading statements? The alternative was to recognize that a majority of Canadians did not vote for Harper or the Tories. A government that truly represented the wishes of Canadian voters was one that comprised the Liberals, NDP and Bloc who could put differences aside to serve the Canadian people.

The suggestion that the Grits, NDP and Bloc are “directly opposed ideologically” (not “idealogically”) is completely false. All share a centre-left political view that allows them to find the common ground upon which to form a coalition.

“Straight Up” what is this “Billion dollar price tag” you speak of?!?! Are these more vague Tory allegations that prove to be lies and misleading statements?

]]> Comment on Harper may stall, but his government will fall by Straight Up http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/harper-may-stall-but-his-government-will-fall/#comment-67 Straight Up Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:53:07 +0000 http://liammitchell.wordpress.com/?p=696#comment-67 The alternative to suspending parliament was what? A government thrown together by 3 leaders directly opposed idealogically, propping up a man in the PM seat that the party doesnt even want to lead them let alone the country. A Bloc that will agree to anything for a Billion dollar price tag. I think the Prime Minister loves the country enough not to allow that to happen to us. Really-He did us a favor. The alternative to suspending parliament was what? A government thrown together by 3 leaders directly opposed idealogically, propping up a man in the PM seat that the party doesnt even want to lead them let alone the country. A Bloc that will agree to anything for a Billion dollar price tag. I think the Prime Minister loves the country enough not to allow that to happen to us. Really-He did us a favor.

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