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Line of BS from UAB Arts and Science Department
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jodyhaskins Offline
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Post: #1
Line of BS from UAB Arts and Science Department
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Dear Alumni,

After yesterday's announcement of decisions affecting UAB Athletics, I wanted to speak to you about our next steps and the future course of the College of Arts and Sciences.

First, to address the events leading to today: The President made a difficult decision based on serious financial considerations *(LIE #1) that would impact the university broadly, including academics in the College of Arts and Sciences. While this is a painful decision to accept for many, including President Watts, we must move forward.

Second, the students in the College are our immediate priority. (LIE #2) Right now we all need to remain focused on the tasks at hand, especially the students. We are quickly approaching the end of this term, including finals and commencement. I have asked our students to please stay focused on their studies and to prepare for finals and the completion of this term. I've encouraged them to work hard in their classes, concentrate on their personal academic goals, and look to their faculty mentors and advisors for support and guidance. Likewise, I am asking the faculty to reassure our students that we are secure as an institution,(LIE #3) and that we are here for them and we will support them regardless of the challenges we might face. Our academic responsibilities are paramount, and we must help our students through the next two weeks with compassion and understanding. They have worked too hard to allow themselves to be distracted and put grades and academic advancement at risk. We have plenty of time in the future to continue our discussions, and we will, but for now we have asked they please gather themselves and focus on their studies to complete this term.

Third, to speak to our future as a College: I am optimistic about UAB's future as a competitive, compelling, challenging academic institution that will attract the very best undergraduate and graduate students, as well as accomplished faculty and staff. We will continue to grow and achieve great things together, of this I have no doubt. We are already home to many prestigious award winners-both in our faculty and student body- and we will win more awards. We will win more grants. Our Band(s) will continue to thrive by competing and performing both locally, nationally, and internationally. I will meet with the Band today to begin discussions on where we go from here. We will continue to invest in our students' education, and we fully support the university's commitment to student life, including the construction of the new Hill University Center, the new freshman dorm, and future buildings planned for our campus. We will keep telling our unique story and will support Enrollment Management as they recruit new students to campus. We will build the culture and community of the College of Arts and Sciences, and I am confident in the abilities of all of you to help us achieve those goals.

Lastly, to address some myths *( NO MYTHS BUT TRUTH) swirling about in the media and in the community:
Undergraduate education will be undermined or will go away at UAB - That is false. Please pay no attention to this rumor. The university is working hard to ensure a viable financial future. Undergraduate education remains a priority in the College Strategic Plan, which is fully supported by the President and senior administrators.
Specific majors and disciplines, like Music, History, and others, will be diminished - That is also false. We are already working hard to grow our Music program with innovative partnerships, as well as with increased opportunities for our Music students to perform and compete around the world. That mission will not change. I am meeting with Music faculty, staff, and students personally to talk to them about future plans today, and I can assure you I am committed to their long term success and growth in the College. As for History and other disciplines, we are in fact pursuing new degree opportunities and we are not closing or reducing academic education in the College as a result of the decisions about athletic programs.
All other sports will now be shuttered - That is false. While it is very difficult to lose any athletic programs, no money has been taken away from athletics. Their budget will be reallocated to ensure the growth of our other sports programs.
Students and faculty in the College are not valued by the administration - Again, that is false. Pay no attention to this rumor. In fact, in my time as Dean, I have found our President and administrators to be fully supportive of our goals. Many of our plans have been supported by the President and Provost and I am encouraged by their commitment to the College. The College is not an island at UAB; we are an integral part of a thriving research institution and the College is fundamental to the overall success of UAB. In no way are we under attack. If anything, we are in a position of leadership and have won the respect of the President and the Provost

I know this has been an extremely painful week. But we must move forward, supporting each other, encouraging each other, and remaining focused on our immediate goal of finals and commencement. I believe in UAB and I believe in the College of Arts and Sciences. I believe in you.


Sincerely,
R.E. Palazzo, Dean
12-04-2014 11:56 AM
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jodyhaskins Offline
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RE: Line of BS from UAB Arts and Science Department
I know you guys think I am extreme when I suggest that we no longer attend any sporting events or donate any money to UAB until we have complete independence from the Board of Trustees and I understand your concern, but there is no tomorrow and the time is now to fight with whatever means we have at our disposal and the way I see it the only means we have is to withhold all funding and participation in anything until we get our independence. If you want to, put that money in a special account and let UAB know that the money is there waiting to be donated and you will put the money there every year and let it accumulate until UAB is COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT of the BOT. Once that is accomplished the funds can be released to the University but not one second sooner (also let them know where you intend that money to go and that the money will not be donated EVER unless there is a guarantee that the money will go where you want it to.

We must draw a line in the sand and that line is NOW! I refuse to be played a fool and continue to give the enemy (and right now our administration is as much an enemy as the BOT). That is what they want you to do. They want you to keep giving them money while they pat you on the head and tell you everything will be OK in other sports. THIS IS A BALD FACED LIE!. If you do that, you will see the slow and painful degradation of our university undergraduate programs and athletics until we are nothing more than a glorified extension center with Division II athletics. At that point, all support and interest will be lost and the BOT ultimate goal of killing UAB athletics will be complete. Trust me, these are evil people and they have all the time in the world. They will just appoint worse and worse successors to the BOT and as long as UAB is regressing instead of progressing they will be happy to watch us twist in the wind until we are eventually blown away. I understand the minds of evil men as a student of world history, this could not be any clearer. Wake up it is almost too late.
(This post was last modified: 12-04-2014 12:05 PM by jodyhaskins.)
12-04-2014 11:59 AM
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Monarch_Pride Offline
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Post: #3
RE: Line of BS from UAB Arts and Science Department
Quote:First, to address the events leading to today: The President made a difficult decision based on serious financial considerations *(LIE #1)
Quote:All other sports will now be shuttered - That is false. While it is very difficult to lose any athletic programs, no money has been taken away from athletics. Their budget will be reallocated to ensure the growth of our other sports programs.

Clearly not financial. 04-chairshot
12-04-2014 12:12 PM
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Desert_Blazer Offline
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Post: #4
RE: Line of BS from UAB Arts and Science Department
I'm happy for Palazzo that he has somehow managed to maintain his belief in the College of Arts and Sciences. Must have been a difficult process to side with Watts, if he has any conscience whatsoever. As a graduate of a program now in that college I can attest that, in light of Palazzo's stance, my belief in the college has not survived. If Palazzo's measure of success is having "won the respect of the President" I am greatly concerned about his values, fitness for the position he holds, and vision for the College of Arts and Sciences. In light of recent events, President Watts is not someone whose respect should be sought or valued.
12-04-2014 12:12 PM
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Rebounder2u Offline
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Post: #5
RE: Line of BS from UAB Arts and Science Department
(12-04-2014 11:59 AM)jodyhaskins Wrote:  I know you guys think I am extreme when I suggest that we no longer attend any sporting events or donate any money to UAB until we have complete independence from the Board of Trustees and I understand your concern, but there is no tomorrow and the time is now to fight with whatever means we have at our disposal and the way I see it the only means we have is to withhold all funding and participation in anything until we get our independence. If you want to, put that money in a special account and let UAB know that the money is there waiting to be donated and you will put the money there every year and let it accumulate until UAB is COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT of the BOT. Once that is accomplished the funds can be released to the University but not one second sooner (also let them know where you intend that money to go and that the money will not be donated EVER unless there is a guarantee that the money will go where you want it to.

We must draw a line in the sand and that line is NOW! I refuse to be played a fool and continue to give the enemy (and right now our administration is as much an enemy as the BOT). That is what they want you to do. They want you to keep giving them money while they pat you on the head and tell you everything will be OK in other sports. THIS IS A BALD FACED LIE!. If you do that, you will see the slow and painful degradation of our university undergraduate programs and athletics until we are nothing more than a glorified extension center with Division II athletics. At that point, all support and interest will be lost and the BOT ultimate goal of killing UAB athletics will be complete. Trust me, these are evil people and they have all the time in the world. They will just appoint worse and worse successors to the BOT and as long as UAB is regressing instead of progressing they will be happy to watch us twist in the wind until we are eventually blown away. I understand the minds of evil men as a student of world history, this could not be any clearer. Wake up it is almost too late.

We don't boycott our teams, that is doing a Watts, our teams deserves our support, show up and support the team..
12-04-2014 12:24 PM
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